October.24 (China Military News cited from chinamil) -- Since the beginning of 21 century, there have been 400-plus high-tech civil enterprises in China which either have obtained the qualifications of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as its equipment manufacturers or have passed the preliminary examination of the PLA for joining in the equipment research and development, forming a fresh force for boosting the better and faster armaments development of the PLA.

Since the reform and opening up to the outside world, Chinese civil enterprises have become a new force in China’s industry with prominent advantages in technological innovation.

In view of improving the military equipment quality and production efficiency, when it entered the 21 century, the related departments of the PLA and the Chinese government have promulgated nearly 100 regulations and policies for the purpose of setting up a competitive equipment procurement system and giving green lights to civil enterprises to join in the ranks of equipment provider of the PLA.

For example, in October 2002, the Central Military Commission enacted the Regulations of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Equipment Procurement to adapt to the market economy. In 2003, the General Armaments Department (GAD) of the PLA issued the Regulations Governing the Qualification Examination of Equipment Producers, setting up the same “entrance threshold” both for the state-owned military industrial enterprises and civil enterprises.

The Regulations on the Permission and Management of Scientific Research and Production of Weapons and Equipment jointly promulgated by the State Council and the Central Military Commission in 2008 and the Opinions on Strengthening Competitive Procurement of Equipment promulgated by the PLA General Armaments Department in last July have provided policy support for civil enterprises to participate in the competition of commissioned manufacturers of weapons and equipment of the PLA.