HÀ NỘI — The public security sector maintain its core role of maintaining national security and social order and safety, said Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng. 

This is one of the key tasks the leader assigned to the sector while addressing the 74th national public security conference in Hà Nội on Thursday.  

Other tasks include targets set in the resolution adopted at the 12th National Party Congress and the sixth congress of the Central Public Security Party Organisation. 

The public security forces should identify risks and threats to national interests, political security and social order and safety, and consult the Party and the State on major strategic policies, guidelines and solutions to deal with security and safety issues, he said.

The leader also urged the sector to renovate its operation, and take a proactive approach in countering sabotage schemes and activities of hostile forces and terrorists.

The sector must be prepared to combat non-traditional security threats as well as complex emerging issues, he said.

He required the sector to work with competent agencies in the fight against “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”, and step up international co-operation.

The Party and State leader applauded the contributions of the sector to national achievements, and honoured officers and soldiers who have surmounted difficulties to complete their assigned tasks.

In 2018 and during the 2016-18 period, the public security forces performed well in their role protecting national security and social order and safety, ensuring peace for the people and making Việt Nam a safe destination for international friends, he said.

The forces have played an increasing role in addressing international crime and participated more in regional and global security co-operation mechanisms, contributing to realising the external policies of the Party and the State and building a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world, the leader stressed. 

He, however, pointed out shortcomings in the sector, including the weak capacity of police in some localities in handling emerging problems, poor performance in combating economic crimes and corruption in several localities, limitations in firefighting and rescue and negative phenomena in personnel management. 

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm asked participants to pool their ideas to analyse the favourable conditions and challenges in protecting national security and social order and safety.

He said the conference should work out directions to fulfill targets and tasks set for 2019 and the years to come. — VNS