Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm chairs the third conference of the Central Military Commission for the 2025-30 tenure in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm has told the Central Military Commission to strengthen the military’s ability to anticipate and respond to security developments, ensuring the country is never caught off guard, particularly regarding strategic issues, borders, seas and islands and cyberspace.

He made the request on Wednesday while chairing the third conference of the Central Military Commission for the 2025-30 term, which reviewed military and defence tasks in the third quarter of this year and set priorities for the fourth quarter.

The top leader asked the commission to continue leading the entire military in proactively monitoring, forecasting and accurately assessing developments and providing timely strategic advice to the Party and State.

He stressed the need to complete strategies and plans for protecting the Fatherland 'early and from afar', while effectively responding to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

The military must maintain and improve combat readiness and ensure it can successfully handle all situations, he said, while calling for stronger measures to improve training and education, organise exercises and intensify efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The top leader also urged the military to proactively implement civil defence plans to respond effectively to emergencies and other situations.

Preparing for major events

The commission and the Ministry of National Defence were assigned to closely follow the Party Central Committee’s directions and promptly develop schemes and plans for major events scheduled for 2030.

A key task will be to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant forces in organising commemorative ceremonies, military parades and marches marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Việt Nam.

He also called for continued efforts to build a politically strong military and a clean and comprehensively strong Military Party Organisation.

Political education and ideological work should be strengthened to enhance political steadfastness and promote the qualities and cultural values of 'Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers' in the new era.

Mass mobilisation and policy work must continue to receive due attention, particularly the '500-day-and-night campaign' to accelerate the search for, collection and identification of martyrs’ remains, with a focus on conducting the work as quickly, effectively and safely as possible.

The Ministry of National Defence was also tasked with completing a project to develop a nationwide terrestrial digital radio and television broadcasting network that serves as a strategic national backup system for submission to the Party Central Committee Secretariat.

He also called for more effective international integration and defence diplomacy.

He ordered the military to make thorough preparations for the third Việt Nam International Defence Expo in 2026, saying the event would contribute to promoting the international standing and reputation of the Việt Nam People’s Army and the country.

The military was also asked to coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in carrying out tasks related to preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.

Strategic advisory role strengthened

According to the conference report, in the third quarter of this year, the commission and the Ministry of National Defence effectively advised the Party and State on military, defence and national security issues, closely monitoring developments and proposing timely measures to maintain strategic initiative and protect the fatherland 'from early and from afar'.

The military continued to play a core role in building a strong, modern all-people national defence, coordinating with central agencies and localities to strengthen grassroots political systems, combine socio-economic development with defence consolidation, and respond to non-traditional security challenges and emergencies.

Combat readiness was maintained, with close management of airspace, territorial waters, border areas, border gates, inland areas and cyberspace.

Communications efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing were also stepped up.

The report highlighted progress in Party building, logistics, technical services, military science and defence industry development, alongside administrative reform and digital transformation.

The military intensified efforts to develop the defence industry under the 2026 theme, “Determined to research and produce advanced and modern weapons and equipment”, while implementing the “Digital Literacy for All” campaign.

International integration and defence diplomacy continued to advance on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, with preparations for the Việt Nam International Defence Expo 2026 actively underway. — VNS