BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army (PLA) will conduct 40 military exercises in 2013 in order to improve its combat abilities, according to the Military Training Department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters.

A statement released Tuesday by the department said the PLA will put China's core security-related interests in a more prominent position and will strengthen live-ammunition and confrontation exercises.

With greater difficulties and training intensity, the exercises are aimed at improving the army's combat ability and helping soldiers fully prepare themselves for war, the statement said.

According to the department, the exercises will cover air-land joint combat, live-ammunition confrontations on the open sea and coordinated aerial defense.