Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

On the afternoon of June 9, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang released information on recent military-related issues.

6月9日下午，国防部新闻发言人张晓刚大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。

Zhang Xiaogang: First, I will release one item of information.

张晓刚：首先我发布一条信息。

On June 8, the 13th strategic dialogue between the Chinese and New Zealand militaries was held in China. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern, expressed a positive willingness to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust.

6月8日，中新（西兰）两军第13次战略对话在华举行。双方围绕共同关心的国际和地区问题坦诚深入交换意见，表达了加强两军务实交流合作的积极意愿，增进了相互理解和信任。

Reporter: According to reports, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun recently visited South Africa at invitation. How does the spokesperson assess relations between the Chinese and South African militaries?

记者：据报道，国防部长董军近期应邀访问南非。请问发言人如何评价中南（非）两军关系？

Zhang Xiaogang: Minister Dong Jun's visit to South Africa at invitation was the first by a Chinese defense minister in 12 years. He held talks with South Africa's Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, and the two sides reached consensus on continuing to deepen all-around practical cooperation. "Comrades plus brothers" is the true character of China-South Africa relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the Chinese and South African militaries will strengthen strategic communication, improve mechanism building, carry out professional exchanges, and deepen education and training, building a model of military cooperation among Global South countries.

**张晓刚：**此次董军部长应邀访问南非，是中国国防部长时隔12年再次访问，与南非国防和退伍军人部部长举行会谈，就持续深化全方位务实合作达成共识。"同志加兄弟"是中南关系的本色。中南两军将在两国元首战略引领下，加强战略沟通，完善机制建设，开展专业交流，深化教育培训，打造全球南方国家军事合作典范。

Reporter: The 2026 national college entrance examination is underway. Please introduce the plan for military academies to enroll regular high school graduates.

记者：2026年全国高考正在进行中，请介绍有关军队院校招收普通高中毕业生计划情况。

Zhang Xiaogang: In 2026, 22 academies across the military plan to enroll approximately 17,500 regular high school graduates. Military academy enrollment work fully implements the requirements of deepening political rectification and training, precisely matches the troops' personnel needs for warfighting, force building, combat readiness, and governance, and scientifically formulates enrollment plans in accordance with the new education and training task plan for military academies. There are three main features: First, integrated through-training for newly commissioned officers. The undergraduate education stage lays a solid foundation in scientific and cultural knowledge, military-political qualities, and professional fundamentals, with emphasis on cultivating command competence, consolidating long-term development potential, and laying a solid basis for pre-assignment training in the troops. Second, strengthening targeted cultivation of political officers. Relying on the National University of Defense Technology, two majors — Marxist theory and ideological-political education — will enroll young students, consolidating and strengthening our military's corps of political officers at the source. Third, launching integrated "5+3" training in clinical medicine. Starting this year, the three military medical universities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force will establish an integrated training system linking five years of undergraduate medical education with three years of master's-level professional degree graduate education and standardized residency training, to cultivate and forge a high-quality, professionalized medical service corps. In addition, talent cultivation in emerging technology fields will continue, relying on the academies' distinctive and advantageous disciplines.

**张晓刚：**2026年，全军22所院校计划招收约1.75万名普通高中毕业生。军队院校招生工作全面落实深化政治整训要求，精准对接部队战建备治人才需求，依据新的军队院校教育培训任务规划，科学制定招生计划，主要有3个特点：**一是部署生长军官贯通培养，**本科教育阶段打牢学员科学文化、军政素质和专业基础，注重指挥素养培育，夯实长远发展潜力，为部队岗前培训奠定扎实基础。**二是加强政治军官针对性培养，**依托国防科技大学开设马克思主义理论、思想政治教育2个专业招收青年学生，从源头上巩固建强我军政治军官队伍。**三是开展临床医学"5+3"一体化培养，**从今年起在陆军、海军、空军3所军医大学，建立5年医学本科教育与3年硕士专业学位研究生教育、住院医师规范化培训相衔接的一体化培养体系，培育锻造高素质专业化的卫勤医疗队伍。另外，依托院校特色优势学科，继续开展新兴技术领域人才培养。

Tempering the sword in youth — strengthening the military starts with me. We look forward to more aspiring young people applying to military academies, singing the song of youth in the heat of the barracks, and injecting inexhaustible momentum into accelerating the building of world-class armed forces. Going forward, candidates and parents should pay attention to official military academy enrollment announcements, and be alert to online enrollment scams and false information.

青春砺剑，强军有我。我们期待更多有志青年报考军校，在火热军营唱响青春之歌，为加快建成世界一流军队注入不竭动力。后续请考生和家长关注军队院校官方招生公告，也请警惕网络招生诈骗和虚假信息。

Reporter: According to reports, the China-Mongolia "Prairie Partner-2026" army joint training has successfully concluded. Please give further details.

记者：据报道，中蒙"草原伙伴-2026"陆军联合训练圆满结束。请进一步介绍有关情况。