BEIJING - The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday established the Military Training Department under the General Staff Headquarters, in accordance with an order issued by Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

The organ grew out of a department of military training and arms services under the PLA General Staff.

It is a "historic overhaul" for the military training of the PLA and a major step to strengthen joint training of different branches of the armed forces in the face of new situation and tasks, said Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff and a member of the CMC.

The department's reshuffling will enable the overall management of military training for the land army as well as the navy, air force, and the strategic nuclear force, according to Chen.