China will modernize its armed police force and improve its response to emergencies to fight terrorism and maintain stability, Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday.

China will also enhance the army's ability to respond to multiple security threats, with a focus on winning regional wars in the information age, Wen said in the government work report delivered at the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Other major tasks outlined in the report include accelerating the development of a modern military logistics system, intensifying research and development on national defense, and improving weapons and equipment.

According to a draft budget report submitted to the NPC, China plans to set this year's national defense budget at 519.082 billion yuan (about US$76.3 billion), 7.5 percent higher than last year.

This is the first time for China's defense budget to grow by less than 10 percent in recent years. The growth rate last year was 14.9 percent.

The money will mainly be spent on modernizing the army and improving the living standards of officers and enlisted personnel, according to the report.

China has reiterated that its developing of a modern military force is for the sake of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2010)