Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member, President Vo Van Thuong on December 29 attended anddelivered a speech at the national military-political conference in 2023, duringwhich he requested the entire army to coordinate with other forces to maintain security andorder throughout the country, and proactively, effectively respond to non-traditionalsecurity challenges.

President Thuong lauded the CentralMilitary Commission, the Ministry of National Defence as well as officers and soldiers of thewhole army for achievements they have made in 2023, thus contributing to concretisingthe Party's policies and guidelines into the State's policies and laws onmilitary and national defence, and meeting the requirements and tasks ofprotecting the Fatherland in the new period.

He asked the Central Military Commissionand the Ministry of National Defence to continue well performing the functionof advising the Party and State on military and defence affairs, improvingresearch and forecasting capacity, and having flexible and effective solutionsto handle problems and avoid being passive or surprised.

It is necessary to continue to deeply graspthe policy of all-people defence, people's war, and national protection in thenew situation, with the viewpoint of relying on the people, and the peoplebeing the root, the centre, and the subject, President Thuong stressed.

The entire army must focus on improving the overallquality and combat strength, strictly maintain combat readiness, monitor andfirmly protect the airspace, sea, border, inland, cyberspace and key areas, and firmly safeguard the country's sovereignty and territory.

The State leader underlined the need for the army to proposemechanisms, policies, and solutions to attract and train talents, and improvethe quality of human resources to meet the requirements of buildingthe army in the new situation.

Special attention must be paid to building atruly clean and strong Party Organisation of the Vietnam People’s Army in terms of politics,ideology, ethics, organisation and personnel, President Thuong said, stressing the needto ensure the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the army.

The leader also required the CentralMilitary Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to exert greater efforts toimprove the material and spiritual lives of officers and soldiers, especiallyin remote, border and island areas; and implement international integration anddefence diplomacy concertedly, comprehensively, and effectively to ensure nationalinterests at the highest./.