General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the conference (photo: VGP)

Attending a political-military conference for the entire army in Hanoi on December 26, Trong, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, stressed the need to strengthen the nation’s defence potential.

The military should coordinate closely with ministries, sectors and localities in building defensive zones and defence planning in combination with the socio-economic development taking place nationwide, he instructed.

The Party leader also requested that the military intensify collaborations with the police and other forces in the fight against crime, smuggling and trade fraud along the borderline and at sea to ensure social security and order, and to be ready to take part in search and rescue missions.

He emphasised the importance of building an army with firm political will and absolute loyalty to the nation, the Party and people, which has streamlined appropriate structure and high combating capacity.

The army must thoroughly grasp the Party’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and intensify the defence sector’s external relations, thus contributing to protecting the nation’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, he added.

Reports at the conference said that in 2017, the military force continued providing effective advices for the Party, Government and localities on defence matters. It has been the major force in building people-based defence and security, as well as in maintaining political stability and social order and safety.

The military has reformed the content and methods of training to improve combat capacity, while playing the main role in many social activities such as repairing damages caused by natural disasters, conducting search and rescue operations and contributing to poverty reduction and new-style rural building, particularly in far-flung, border and island areas.