President Trần Đại Quang yesterday asked all armed units in Thanh Hóa Province to strengthen their regular drills and spare no effort in building up the capacity to tackle all emergencies for maintaining national security.— VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

THANH HÓA — President Trần Đại Quang yesterday asked all armed units in Thanh Hóa Province to strengthen their regular drills and spare no effort in building up the capacity to tackle all emergencies for maintaining national security.

Meeting with representatives of the police, border security forces, militia and other armed units during a visit to the north-central province, he asked them to work on community-based defence and security, turning districts and provinces into strong defensive bases.

Quang also asked the province to continue innovation in defence activities focusing on improving the qualification, training and education of members of the armed units so that they are able to discharge their national defence tasks well and alongside participating in socio-economic development.

 He advised armed units at all levels to closely co-operate with local people and other sectors to keep a close watch on happenings related to defence and security so as to help relevant agencies take proper and prompt countermeasures for settling local and national security issues.

To protect national sovereignty, the police, military and other armed units in Thanh Hóa should increase their leadership capacity and build pure and strong Party organisations, Quang said.

He asked officers and soldiers to thoroughly grasp Party and State guidelines on external affairs and external defence relations, as well as the task of building borders of peace, friendship, co-operation and development with neighbouring countries.

Handling border issues requires high resolve, patience, prudence and flexibility, and the province should also co-operate closely with neighbouring Laos to ensure completely safe border areas, he said.

During the ongoing doi moi (renewal) period, Thanh Hóa’s armed units have paired national defence with economic development. They have also taken an active part in poverty reduction efforts as well as those dealing with consequences of natural disasters, including search and rescue operations, local officials told the President
Last year, the provincial police force also mobilised the entire provincial political system and people to take part in social security activities.— VNS