Leader: Army must strive to complete tasks for 2019

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Addressing the national political-military conference held by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi, the leader said 2019 is significant to the implementation of the resolution adopted at the 12th National Party Congress and the 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan. 

Therefore, the leader, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, stressed the army needs to stay vigilant, make accurate forecasts of the situation, especially emerging complex issues, and provide timely consultations for the Party and State to deal with the problems.

At the conference reviewing the performance of the Central Military Commission and the Defence Ministry in 2018, he tasked the commission and the ministry with boosting the national strength to build people-based defence and security, stressing that more attention should be paid to building defence zones.

National defence and security should go in tandem with economic development, particularly in strategic and key border and island areas, he said. 

Trong urged the commission and the ministry to join hands with the police and other relevant forces in the fight against sabotage plots and destructive activities by hostile forces, and effectively combat crimes. 

Another important work in the security and defence education is to raise public awareness of national defence, he added. 

It is a must to build the army politically strong, absolutely loyal to the Party, the nation and people, and resolved to fight against wrongdoings and hostile forces, the leader noted. 

Regarding the apparatus organisation of the political system, he said the adjustment must ensure a streamlined and effective army and better combative strength, thus meeting national defence requirements and tasks in both short and long terms. 

Trong highlighted the image of Vietnamese soldiers in the new period who, he said, should be equipped with scientific and military knowledge in order to build a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern army. 

The combination of the defence industry and national industry can contribute to improving defence potential and capacity for ensuring weapons and technical equipment for the army, he said. 

The leader asked the army at all levels to step up external relations and place more importance to bilateral defence cooperation, stressing peace-keeping operations and preparations for military and defence conferences when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020. 

More efforts are needed to build the army’s Party Committees at all levels and officers and soldiers who must set examples in morality and lifestyle, the leader said.