自中华人民共和国成立以来，从捍卫国土水域到全国基础设施的建立和扶贫开发，中国军队承担了许多责任。
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China's army has taken on a range of responsibilities - from defending China's lands and waters, to helping build national infrastructure, to working on property alleviation.
It also works with civilians to implement scientific, technological, educational, cultural and health projects.
Chinese armed forces lead rescue operations when natural disasters strike, like floods, tornadoes, droughts and earthquakes.
China's armed forces have nine state-level professional rescue divisions, with 50,000 members. And a number of provincial emergency-rescue units, with 45,000 members.
These rescue teams work together in the face of natural disasters - like we saw in 2008, after the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan in Sichuan Province - as well as across the country today in the aftermath of extreme weather like floods and landslides.
CCTV reporter just visited the border city of Dandong to find out how the PLA safeguards China's borders and fights floods.
The Yalu River, together with Tumen River, and a small portion of Changbai Mountain help to divide China and the DPRK. With a length of over 1,400 kilometers, the border patrols are constantly engaged.
The Border Patrol's duties along the Yalu River consist largely of stopping smuggling and illegal immigration and strengthening border security. And if I tell you the bridge over there handles a considerable amount of the trade volume between China and the DPRK, you get the idea of the level of responsibilities the frontier soldiers on the bridge have.
Since the majority of trade between the two countries are transited over the Sino-DPRK friendly bridge in Dandong -- a city destined by geography to be the major connecting point - the frontier soldiers do more than just stand guard.
"It's been two years since I signed up for the border security force, other than guarding the bridge, I've gained a lot of experience and knowledge of border patrol. That's why I want to apply for the military academy and come back here as a qualified military officer," said Cheng Jiulin, frontier soldier of Frontier Inspection Station, Dandong.
Apart from patrols and surveillance, the frontier soldiers here are also required to safeguard events like exhibitions and could be deployed for flood relief missions. Their schedules are always tight.
Cheng also said, "It's the flood season and time is very precious...We have to ensure both border securities and flood relief. You can see the soldiers are trying to get the most out of their military exercises to improve their physical fitness levels."
"We are a little different to other frontier inspection stations, because the Yalu River is also a popular tourist destination. The frontier soldiers must display professionalism in every aspect," said Miao Yuwen, military instructor of Frontier Inspection Station, Dandong.
From the prevention of, and crack-down on, illegal and criminal acts in border areas to disaster relief, the frontier soldiers of Dandong play an indispensable role in building prosperities in the peaceful time.
