Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Thursday the national political-military conference held by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence in Hà Nội.— VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Thursday asked the army to make all-out efforts to complete its targets and tasks for 2019.

Addressing the national political-military conference held by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence in Hà Nội, the leader said 2019 will mark a significant milestone in the implementation of the resolution adopted at the 12th National Party Congress and the 2016-20 socio-economic development plan.

The leader, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, stressed the army needs to stay vigilant, make accurate forecasts of emerging issues and provide timely consultations for the Party and State to deal with problems.

The conference was used to review the performance of the Central Military Commission and the defence ministry in 2018. Trọng tasked the commission and the ministry with building people-based defence and security, stressing that more attention should be paid to building defence zones.

National defence and security should go in tandem with economic development, particularly in key strategic border and island areas, he said.

Trọng urged the commission and the ministry to help the police and other relevant forces in the fight against sabotage plots and destructive activities by hostile forces, and to effectively combat crimes.

It is also important to raise public awareness of national defence, he added.

The leader noted the army must be politically strong and loyal to the Party, the nation and the people, and be resolved to fight against wrongdoing and hostile forces.

Regarding the apparatus organisation of the political system, he said the adjustment must ensure a streamlined and effective army, thus meeting national defence requirements and tasks in both the short and long term.

Trọng said Vietnamese soldiers in the new period should be equipped with scientific and military knowledge in order to build a revolutionary, elite and modern army.

The combination of the defence industry and national industry can contribute to improving defence and providing weapons and technical equipment, he said.

The leader asked all levels of the army to step up external relations and place more importance on bilateral defence co-operation, stressing the importance of peace-keeping operations and preparations for military and defence conferences when Việt Nam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

More efforts are needed to build the army’s Party Committees, and officers and soldiers must set an example in morality and lifestyle, the leader said. — VNS