HÀ NỘI — Promoting laws of the sea and rescuing fishermen in danger should be the priority of Việt Nam Coast Guard, President Trần Đại Quang stressed yesterday at his meeting with the force’s delegation, representatives of 11 island districts, enterprises and other socioeconomic organisations.  

The event took place under the framework of the 20th anniversary of the Việt Nam Coast Guard (August 28, 1998 – 2018).

On the occasion, Quang lauded the force for their excellent performances in patrolling and controlling law enforcement on Việt Nam’s waters, protecting the country’s territory using legal and civil measures over the past two decades. The force has been at the vanguard in search and rescue activities, carrying out defence diplomacy and accelerating civil engagement.

Since 2017, the force has effectively implemented the initiative “Việt Nam Marine Police accompany fishermen” in island districts which have strategic locations in defence and national security.

The program aims to strengthen the political system in these localities, making fishermen feel secure to earn a living and contribute to protecting the country’s sea.

Quang also emphasised the significance of the force in ensuring social welfare, providing more pragmatic assistances for fishermen in maintaining livelihoods and developing the maritime economy. He asked the Việt Nam Coast Guard to tighten its collaboration with other agencies in monitoring  and responding to emergency cases while protecting the marine environment and preventing sea incidents.

Regarding coastal localities and island districts, it is important to continue turning the Party and State’s policies, especially the Vietnam Maritime Strategy until 2020, into specific measures to sustainably developing the maritime economy, improving fisheries and developing tourism services. 

On the same day, the State leader urged the whole Party, people and army to heighten revolutionary vigilance and combative spirit to firmly defend national security and ensure social order and safety at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Public Security to review the “All people protect national security” movement for 2006 - 2018. 

He ordered changes in measures to implement the movement and asked for the strong coordination among the Public Security Force and the Vietnam People’s Army, Vietnam Fatherland Front and other related agencies.

 Self-management, self-defence, self-protection and self-reconciliation models should be improved to fight crimes, he added. From 2016 to 2018, more than 2,000 models initiated under the framework of the movement, helping law enforcement forces handle more than 300,000 cases of law violations, arrest nearly 200,000 lawbreakers and crack down on thousands of criminal gangs. — VNS