Nghe An (VNA) - Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan onDecember 1 urged Military Zone 4 to make greater efforts, optimise the opportunities,and overcome the difficulties in order to complete the targets of nationalconstruction and defence in the new circumstances.

During her visitto Military Zone 4, the top legislator said it should work harder to improve forecastingwork, especially in sea, island, and border areas, emphasising the need todevise plans to guarantee the safety and security of the 13th National Party Congress and the general election slated for May 23.

She ordered the enhancingof the protection of internal politics and the Party’s ideological foundation, toeffectively combat plots by hostile forces and improve the quality andefficiency of mass mobilisation work.

Military Zone 4 alsoneeds to play a more active role in social welfare, poverty reduction, nationaldisaster response, and search and rescue operations, the leader said.

Regardingdefence diplomacy, Ngan asked the unit to join hands with local PartyCommittees and authorities to maintain and reinforce the friendship and specialsolidarity with the Lao army and people, contributing to building a commonborder of peace, friendship, stability, and development.

She highlightedParty building and personnel training, saying that officers and soldiers shouldbe fully aware of the task of safeguarding national independence, sovereignty,territorial integrity, and interests.

Notably, in theface of COVID-19, Military Zone 4 must work to ensure safety within itself, aswell as the people’s safety, as the armed forces play a key role in the fightagainst the pandemic.

Over past years,Military Zone 4 has provided consultations to local Party Committees andauthorities, remained vigilant, and proven its core role in natural disasterresponse, the COVID-19 fight, and search and rescue operations, according tothe NA leader.

The unit hasclosely coordinated with localities to receive tens of thousands of people who havereturned home due to the pandemic and conducted quarantine at military bases,she said.

In responding tothis year’s storms and flooding in the central region, 35 officers and soldierssacrificed their lives, Ngan said, praising their sense of responsibility, will,and political mettle.

Earlier the sameday, Ngan and her entourage visited and presented relief aid to two familieshit hard by rains and floods in Hung Dao commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe Anprovince, and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at a site dedicated to thelate leader in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district./.