President Tô Lâm shakes hands with a Việt Nam People’s Navy leader during his Friday work visit. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – President Tô Lâm emphasised the need for the Việt Nam People’s Navy (VPN) to closely integrate the protection of sovereignty with the socio-economic development of maritime and island regions in order to build a strong national defence at sea.

He was speaking during his visit to the VPN in the northern coastal city of Hải Phòng on Friday.

Vice Admiral Trần Thanh Nghiêm, Commander of the VPN, stated that under the leadership of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, the VPN has successfully completed all assigned tasks, especially protecting the country's maritime and island sovereignty.

Nghiêm said that the VPN has promptly advised and proposed to the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence various policies and solutions to handle situations according to the proper guidelines and strategies, avoiding passivity and surprise, maintaining maritime and island sovereignty, maritime economic activities and a peaceful environment at sea.

They have strictly maintained forces and are means ready for combat as per regulations. They have deployed forces and, in close coordination with border guards, coast guards, and fisheries inspectors, have rigorously implemented the Prime Minister’s Directive 45 on urgent tasks and solutions to address the European Commission's warnings about combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Vice Admiral stated that the VPN has excelled in training, receiving, and mastering new technical equipment, conducting live-fire drills with various weapons, and effectively performing search and rescue missions in remote maritime and island areas.

Regarding political and ideological work, Nghiêm asserted that the VPN has effectively coordinated the implementation of maritime and island education programmes with 63 cities and provinces, 16 central agencies, and media agencies, contributing to attracting resources to build a modern navy force.

Expressing his pleasure at his visit to the VPN, President Lâm conveyed General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng's best regards to all the VPN’s officers and soldiers and those in combat positions across the nation's maritime regions.

President Lâm acknowledged the outstanding achievements and victories of the VPN. He said that faced with the new demands of socio-economic development linked with the steadfast protection of national maritime and island sovereignty, the VPN has consistently embraced the Party's and State's guidelines and policies, overcoming all difficulties and hardships and firmly and persistently defending the nation's maritime and island sovereignty.

By proactively understanding, forecasting, analysing, and accurately assessing the situation, the VPN has advised the Party and State on numerous policies and solutions, addressing complex emerging situations promptly and effectively to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

President Lâm emphasised that in the fields of maritime and island education, maritime economic development linked with the task of firmly protecting maritime and island sovereignty and search and rescue operations in remote areas, the VPN consistently demonstrates its leading role, serving as a reliable support and solid trust for the people.

He stressed that the VPN must continue to fulfill its pivotal role in building a robust national defence on the sea and a comprehensive people's war posture at sea.

Additionally, the President called for focused efforts to build the VPN into a powerful force, serving as the core in defending the nation and driving economic development in challenging maritime areas.

In celebration of World Oceans Day (June 8), the President urged the VPN to engage in public education and mobilisation efforts, encouraging people to actively participate in activities that protect sovereignty while promoting maritime and island economic development. He emphasised the importance of safeguarding marine resources and the environment sustainably as well as firmly defending national sovereignty at sea.

Also on the same day, President Lâm paid tribute at the Memorial House for President Hồ Chí Minh and the Heroes and Martyrs, planted a commemorative tree in the courtyard of the VPN’s headquarters and inspected combat readiness forces on Trường Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, DK-I rigs on the southern continental shelf and patrol ships in the southwestern sea region. – VNS