The Ministry of National Defense is the military work department of the State Council. 1954 the first session of the first national people's congress decided to establish the Ministry of national defense, which is subordinate to the State Council. The basic duties of the Ministry of National Defense are: unified management of the construction of the national armed forces, such as the recruitment, establishment, equipment, training, military scientific research, ranks and salaries of the people's armed forces. The work of the Ministry of National Defense is the responsibility of the General Staff Department, the General Political Department, the General Logistics Department and the General Armament Department of the China People's Liberation Army. The Ministry of National Defense is not responsible for commanding and directing the national armed forces, and all activities involving foreign military exchanges are generally carried out in the name of the Ministry of National Defense. The Ministry of National Defense is the functional department of the State Council, alongside the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Health, the People's Bank of China and the State Planning Commission. It belongs to the leadership of the State Council and the administrative department. Although the Minister of National Defense is an officer, the Ministry of National Defense is not a military decision-making body, but only undertakes the functions of representing the government and the army in foreign exchanges, as well as military management functions such as national defense education and conscription. The Central Military Commission is in charge of military affairs, while the Ministry of National Defense is in charge of government affairs. The department of defense is an empty shelf. Inside is the military commission.