Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visitedthe Border Guard High Command in Hanoi on December 18, hailing the force’sachievements which have contributed to Vietnam’s successes in 2022.

The tour tookplace on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Vietnam People’sArmy (VPA) (December 22) and 33 years of the All People’s National DefenceFestival.

Reporting at the event, Lt. Gen. Le Duc Thai, Commander ofthe Border Guard High Command, said the force has ensured a good grasp of thesituation; made timely reports and practical proposals; effectively foughtagainst crimes; seriously maintained combat readiness and performed naturaldisaster response, search, and rescue duties; and actively engaged in building theall-people border defence and developing strong border areas.

Via videoconference, PM Chinh also learned aboutdifficulties, advantages, and proposals by officers and soldiers of the borderguard post of A Pa Chai in the northwestern province of Dien Bien, Truong Sa inthe central province of Khanh Hoa, and Ea H’leo in the Central Highlandsprovince of Dak Lak.

In his remarks, the Government leader said overthe last 78 years, under the leadership, education, and training by the Party,late President Ho Chi Minh, and veterans of the Party, the VPA has beengrowing unceasingly; kept steadfast in the goal of fighting for nationalindependence, basing on the people, and staying close to the people; andobtained numerous feats of arms and remarkable attainments during the nationalliberation struggle and national safeguarding, thus deserving its status as the“heroic army of the heroic Vietnamese people”.

As part of the VPA, border guards form the core force in managingand protecting the national boundary and border areas. They are stationed inthe frontline and disadvantaged areas to perform a large number of tasks, henoted.

Stressing the special importance of stabilityof the national boundary, sovereignty, and territory, he asked the force to maintain a good grasp, and assessment, and precise forecasting of thesecurity and political situation in border, maritime, and key areas; make timelyproposals; properly respond to any circumstance; firmly safeguard sovereignty, territory,and border security; effectively deal with non-traditional security challenges;and help resolve border-related issues.

PM Chinh asked then to strongly help with preventingfishermen’s violation of foreign waters; combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated(IUU) fishing; drastically fight crimes, especially drug andtransnational ones; gear up search and rescue plans in anticipation of naturaldisasters and disease outbreaks; and step up digital transformation andadministrative procedure reforms to improve border management.

The force also needs to properly perform mass mobilisation,learn people’s aspirations, help build strong grassroots political systems inborder areas, pay due attention to ethnic minority affairs, and assist borderresidents to reduce poverty and build new-style rural areas.

Another task is to effectively carry out diplomatic dutiesand form close-knit relations with border guard forces of neighbouringcountries to help build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, anddevelopment, the PM said, requesting coordination with authorities of borderareas to ensure a happy Lunar New Year (Tet) for locals and care fordisadvantaged people.

Heexpressed his belief that despite many difficulties and challenges, the borderguard force will successfully perform all assigned duties./.