Freshly elected Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent bestwishes to army units during his New Year visit to the Defence Ministryheadquarters on January 30.

Trong, who is alsoNational Assembly Chairman and Secretary of the Central Military PartyCommittee, sent warm sentiments and wishes for a Happy New Year to theentire army, “who stay alert to safeguard the national airspace, landterritory, the sea, islands and borders for national peace and people’shappy lives”.

He also hailed the ministry for helping officers and soldiers across the country celebrate the nation’s biggest holiday.

“These preparations are of great significance for soldiers on duty onfrontline islands and remote border areas,” said the Party leader.

In this regard, Trong was assured by Defence Minister Phung QuangThanh, who is a Party Politburo member, of the stability alongborderlines, on islands and in other important areas.

The defence minister also pledged that the entire army would remainready to promptly respond to any situation even while celebrating Tet.

The ministry has shipped supplies, including foodsand other necessities for Tet to the Truong Sa archipelago, for armiesand ordinary people there to celebrate the lunar New Year festival infull.

The ministry has also sent delegations tovisit and present gifts for families of fallen soldiers and war invalidsand sanatoriums caring for war invalids, while shipping supplies toarmy units in disadvantaged regions.

On the day,Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a meeting at the PartyCentral Committee Office with the participation of former Party GeneralSecretaries Do Muoi, Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh./.