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

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính told the army to keep working hard to protect the nation's independence, sovereignty and unity in connection with socio-economic development and political stability at the national political-military conference held on Wednesday.

The conference was held to review the operation of the army in the first six months of the year and set tasks for the remaining months of 2021.

PM Chính said despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has achieved encouraging results in all fields in the first half of the year, partly thanks to the contribution by the Ministry of National Defence and the whole army.

He also said army forces have fulfilled their tasks despite the challenges of the pandemic and complex regional and global developments.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen.Lieut.Gen Nguyễn Tân Cương said the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence had ordered all forces to make efforts to overcome challenges to complete their tasks, particularly in pandemic prevention and natural disaster prevention and control work.

The conference set out tasks for the remaining months of the year, identifying some key issues for the future, including making early forecasts and consultations to the Party and State to deal with situations and continuing to implement resolutions, strategies and policies about military and national defence.

The ministry will work with ministries, agencies and localities to effectively carry out resolutions of the Politburo about incorporating national defence and security with socio-economic development.

The army will strictly manage the airspace, sea, islands, borders, and key areas; proactively prevent and tackle natural disaster aftermaths and join search and rescue activities.

The army will continue to implement international integration and national defence diplomacy; strengthen international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and control; overcome the consequences of bombs, mines and toxic chemicals left by the wars and participate in UN peacekeeping operations. — VNS