Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the national political-military conference on July 10 to review the leadership and direction over military and defence affairs in the first six months of 2024 and launch tasks for the rest of the year.

Addressing the conference, PM Chinh hailed the achievements that the Ministry of National Defence and the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) have made so far, affirming that the VPA has excellently performed its functions as a combat force, a working force and a production force, and comprehensively completed all assigned tasks.

Analysing the regional and world situation, especially difficulties and challenges in the coming time, the PM said that the more challenging the situation develops, the heavier military-defence tasks become.

Repeating Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's directions at the recent meeting of the Central Military Commission, he asked the entire VPA to focus on eight specific tasks, including reviewing targets and missions of the Ministry of National Defence to ensure the fulfillment of the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress and the 11th Military Party Organisation’s Congress, actively performing the function of giving strategic advice to the Party and State on defence-military affairs, and enhancing the combat readiness and combat capacity to firmly protect national sovereignty.

He underlined the need to research and develop military art and operations to respond to high-tech warfare, while improving the quality of training and drills, and enhancing the commanding and combat coordination capacity.

The military must work closely with the Ministry of Public Security and other forces to maintain security and order, prevent and combat crimes, enhance law enforcement efficiency at sea, especially in averting foreign ships from violating islands and seas of Vietnam, and fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, he requested.

The Government leader reminded the VPA to continue fulfilling civil defence tasks, effectively responding to non-traditional security challenges, and playing the key role in natural disaster prevention and control, incident response, and search and rescue activities.

Along with effectively implementing programmes, plans and projects in logistics - engineering and defence industry, and pioneering in innovation, the VPA should also take the lead in promoting digital economy, green economy, and circular economy while paying greater attention to attracting talents and improving living conditions for officers and soldiers, especially those based in far-flung, border, and maritime areas, PM Chinh requested.

Together with reinforcing the people-based defence, the VPA should actively, comprehensively, and effectively deploy international integration and the defence external relations work, thus maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development, the PM stated.

On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs෴ Day (July 27), he also expressed his deep gratitude to the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, martyrs and heroes of the people’s armed forces, as well as wounded and sick solders, relatives of martyrs, and those who rendered services for the revolution./.