Hanoi (VNA) – A congress establishingthe Association of Former People’s Public Security Officers of Vietnam was heldin the prꦺesence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on August 17.

With permission from the Party CentralCommittee’s Secretariat, the Ministry of Home Affairs signed a decision on the associationestablishment on August 1. The establishment is considered amajor landmark in the 78-year history of the people’s public security force, anaffirmation of the importance of former public security officers and theassociation, and a contribution to the development of the public security forceas well as national construction and defence. The association operates basing on theprinciples of voluntariness, self-management, democracy, equality, transparency,solidarity, and mutual assistance in line with law. Its activities are underthe leadership of the Central Public Security Party Committee, leaders of theMinistry of Public Security, and all-level Party committees of the public securityforce. It is also managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and local administrations. The congress, attended by 219delegates, elected the executive committee, standing board, and inspectionboard of the association. Sen. Lt. Gen. Le Quy Vuong, former Deputy Minister ofPublic Security, was elected Chairman of the association for the 2023 - 2028tenure. Thecongress organising board reported that the number of former public securityofficers has increased over years, nearly 10,000 annually, to reach more than110,000 at present. Most of them wished to have a national-level association set up to gather and give support to members. Addressing the event, PM Chinh saidthe people’s public security is a crucial armed force of the Party, State andpeople and plays the core role in safeguarding national security and socialorder and safety. Over the 78 years of development, the force has surmountedcountless hardships and bravely fought to achieve various feats of arms. TheParty and State always respect and appreciate the substantial contributions byformer public security officers to the national construction and defence. Many policieshave been issued to mobilise the strength of the former officers for nationaldevelopment, he went on. Henoted the establishment of the association reflects the Party and State’s carefor the force, including the former officers. In his speech, the Government leaderalso gave directions for the association’s activities./.