President Tô Lâm, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and the Minister of Defence Phan Văn Giang chaired the 10th conference of the Central Military Commission in Hà Nội on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — The Central Military Commission held its 10th conference to discuss and evaluate military and defence affairs, along with Party building issues in the military for the first six months of the year, as well as how to implement key tasks for the second half of 2024.

Due to unavoidable circumstances, Party leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Secretary of the Commission, sent a directive speech, highlighting important issues for the commission to consider during its discussions.

President Tô Lâm, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Minister of Defence, General Phan Văn Giang presided over the conference on Monday.

In the first half of the year, in spite of facing both opportunities and challenges, the military has completed 13 groups of tasks as set out in the Resolution on the Military for this year, by the Central Military Commission, on schedule. Many tasks were completed excellently, with some breakthroughs achieved.

The commission and the defence ministry has proactively researched, understood and accurately assessed the situation, promptly advising the Party and the State on policies and strategies to handle situations flexibly and effectively, avoiding passivity and surprise. They have maintained strict readiness for combat missions, participated in disaster prevention and mitigation, search and rescue operations, protecting the safety of people's lives and property, and played a core role in building an all-people national defence system.

They needed to construct defensive zones, maintain political security, social order and safety, and have protected the country's borders, seas and islands, contributing quality inputs to the planning processes of central and local departments and agencies.

International integration and defence diplomacy were considered to be proactive, flexible, substantial and effective.

In the directive text, Party chief Trọng acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements and results of the military in the first half of 2024, specifically, the strict adherence to Party directives and resolutions, State policies and laws.

Trọng stressed that in the second half of 2024, the global and regional situations will continue to see rapid, complex and unpredictable developments.

The military must continue to strive and successfully achieve the goals and tasks set for 2024 with the spirit of 'Five Resolutions and Five Proactives' that the commission must follow, the Party chief said.

Those Resolutions include: Resolving to complete the goals, tasks, and solutions set by the 13th Party Congress and the 11th Military Party Congress; Resolving to lead and direct combat readiness; Resolving to lead and direct the reorganisation and restructuring of the military; Resolving to build a strong military cadre team meeting the requirements of new missions. They also need to organise activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Việt Nam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the All-People's National Defence Festival.

The 'Five Proactives' include: Proactively advising and proposing solutions to handle situations; Proactively protecting the sovereignty of the borders, seas and islands and the unity and territorial integrity of the country; Proactively preparing for the 12th Military Party Congress and the 14th National Party Congress; Proactively directing the effective implementation of assigned political tasks; and Proactively implementing measures to build a truly clean, strong and exemplary military Party organisation.

President Tô Lâm and Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính also acknowledged and praised the outstanding achievements and results of the commission and the defence ministry.

PM Chính asked the commission to continue being "proactive and sensitive", improving research capabilities to have better forecasts and accurate assessments of any situation, to advise the Party and the State on military and defence policies and strategies that meet both immediate and long-term tasks and to promptly and effectively handle situations to avoid any surprises.

The Government leader also urged them to focus on building and completing projects and proposals for the development of modern, dual-use defence industries to meet the requirements of building and protecting the country.

Regarding future directions, President Tô Lâm highlighted a number of matters that require focus, including strengthening defence capabilities and focusing on building an all-people's national defence force linked to people's security and linking defence and security with economic development.

The President also requested the military's close coordination with the public security ministry to maintain security and order nationwide.

At the conference, defence minister Giang said the military leadership has acknowledged directives of the Party and State leaders, opinions of central agencies and detailed several key tasks that the military commission and the defence ministry need to focus on from now until the end of 2024. — VNS