Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attends the national political military conference on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday ordered the army to improve combat readiness and power to firmly protect the Fatherland's sovereignty, while attending the national political military conference.

The conference, held by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, aimed to review six-month performance of the military tasks and launch new tasks for the second half of the year.

Analysing the global and regional situation, especially challenges in the coming time, Chính said the more difficult and complicated the situation is, the tougher tasks the defence force will take on.

Reiterating five determinations, five initiatives mentioned by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the recent Central Military Commission’s conference, Chính asked the army to follow three nos.

Do not be subjective, negligent, or invigilant.

Do not stay strategically passive or surprised, especially towards strategic areas, important partners, dangerous objects and hostile forces.

Do not get confused, or be late in handling emerging and newly arising issues.

He ordered the force to improve the quality of training, education and drills as well as organisational, commanding and cooperation capacity.

He said the army must coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant forces to maintain security, order and fight against crimes.

The defence force has been told to improve the law enforcement effectiveness at sea, especially in preventing foreign ships from encroaching on the country's islands, combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to contribute to the early withdrawal of the EC's IUU yellow card.

The force must also play a key role in natural disaster prevention and control, incident response and search and rescue, he said.

The army must act as a pioneer in innovation while promoting research, creating breakthroughs, and mastering science and technology in designing and manufacturing technical weapons and equipment.

He expressed his wish that the army will be a pioneer in developing the digital economy, green economy and circular economy.

The Prime Minister directed the army to research policies to attract and utilise talents, take care of the material and spiritual lives of officers and soldiers, especially those in remote, border and island areas.

At the same time, the entire army must proactively, comprehensively and effectively implement international integration and follow four no's defence policy: no partaking in military alliances, no siding with one country to act against another, no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Việt Nam as leverage to counteract other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations. — VNS