Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng (centre), Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (left) and Minister of Defence Ngô Xuân Lịch at the Sunday meeting of the Central Military Commission held in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The army must always be prepared to ensure the safety of the country’s sea-based economic activities and safeguard the sovereignty, Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng said.

He made the order to the Central Military Commission as the commission held a meeting in Hà Nội on Sunday to review the implementation of military and defence tasks in 2019 and discuss duties for next year.

Officials at the meeting included Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, member of the commission’s standing board; Defence Minister Gen. Ngô Xuân Lịch, Vice Secretary of the commission; and head of the Party’s Organisation Commission Phạm Minh Chính.

Party leader Trọng is the secretary of the commission and chaired the Sunday meeting.

Participants shared the view that despite complex regional and global situations in 2019, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of Defence and cadres at all levels have stayed united, closely followed the situation, and upheld their sense of responsibility to direct the whole army to fulfil all assigned tasks, creating strong improvements in defence and military work.

Defence diplomacy has been enhanced and reaped practical results. The whole army has stayed united and steadfast, completely putting trust in the Party’s leadership and the State’s governance, remained close to the people, and been ready to take on and fulfil every task, officials said.

Valuing the performance of the Central Military Commission, officials and soldiers this year, President Trọng pointed out new requirements in the military building, defence consolidation and national safeguarding in 2020. 

He requested the entire army to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the commission’s leadership resolution for 2020, noting that they need to make early forecasts, precise assessments and timely proposals to the Party and State so as to successfully overcome all military and defence situation that might arise.

The whole army must ensure combat readiness; strictly manage the country’s airspace, seas, borders, inland territory, and key and strategic areas; ensure safety for sea-based economic activities; be ready to successfully deal with all circumstances; and further engage in disaster prevention and control, search, rescue, and environmental incident settlement, he stressed.

The top leader also ordered the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of Defence to make good preparations for all-level Party congresses, pay more attention to the personnel work, and boost examination and supervision to build an incorruptible and strong Party organisation of the army. — VNS