The Prime Minister asked the Army to heighten vigilance.

On the morning of November 29, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a working session with the Ministry of National Defense. Also attending were Politburo members: Vuong Dinh Hue, Deputy Prime Minister; General Ngo Xuan Lich, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense; representatives of leaders of ministries, departments, branches and central agencies.

Reporting to the Prime Minister at the working session, the leader of the Ministry of National Defense said that in 2018, the world and regional political security situation was complicated; domestically, hostile forces increased their opposition to the Party, State, and Army.

However, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have focused on leading and directing the entire army to strictly implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies, comprehensively deploy tasks; make breakthroughs in implementing eight key tasks, creating strong changes in all aspects of work.

Accordingly, it has actively researched and proposed to perfect policies and laws on military and national defense; submitted to the Politburo to promulgate strategies on defense, military, protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace, and protecting national borders.

Promote the core role, build a national defense associated with an increasingly strong people's security; strengthen the country's defense capability. Maintain and promote the leadership role of party organizations; the entire army is stable, absolutely trusts the leadership of the Party, the management and operation of the State and Government; the overall quality, level, strength and combat readiness are improved.

The Ministry also does a good job of propagating, controlling, managing, and enforcing laws at sea and on the border; maintains hotlines and joint patrols with navies of other countries, contributing to affirming sovereignty over territories and islands. Promotes the core role, participates in preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, searching and rescuing; helps people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, especially in remote, border, and island areas, builds a solid people's heart position..., thereby the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers continues to shine in the hearts of the people.

International cooperation and defense diplomacy have been expanded; exchanges of high-level delegations, dialogues, and defense exchanges have been well organized, contributing to building trust, balancing relations with major countries, and enhancing the position of the Army and the country in the international arena.

The Ministry of National Defense affirmed that the achievement of such results was thanks to the regular leadership and direction of the Party, State, National Assembly, directly the Government and Prime Minister, and the effective coordination and support of ministries, central agencies, Party committees, authorities and people of localities.

Regarding the tasks in 2019, the Ministry of National Defense determined to continue to improve the ability to research, forecast, and correctly assess the situation, advise the Party and State to successfully handle situations, avoid being passive or surprised; ensure national and ethnic interests, maintain independence, territorial sovereignty and a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Strengthen state management of national defense; effectively implement military and defense strategies and projects. Continue to build a national defense foundation, a national defense posture associated with a people's security posture and a solid defense zone of provinces and cities; focus on key areas, remote areas, border areas, and islands.

Along with that, we focus on building and improving the overall quality and combat strength of the entire army, focusing on drastically implementing Conclusion 16 of the Politburo on organizing the force to ensure it is lean, compact, and strong. Closely coordinate with forces to maintain security and order nationwide.

Proactively handle incidents, natural disaster risks, rescue, and overcome post-war consequences. Prepare well in all aspects for Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Party Congress. Continue to expand and improve the effectiveness of defense diplomacy....

Concluding the working session, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated the great achievements that the Ministry of National Defense has achieved in recent times. The Ministry has comprehensively and excellently completed its tasks in 2018, especially in proposing important strategies to protect national sovereignty and security.

Along with that is performing well the advisory function to the Party and State on military and national defense. Those results are an important foundation for the country's socio-economic development.

Therefore, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Ministry of National Defense and the entire army made important contributions to the country's overall achievements in 2018. The Prime Minister stated that for the country, the defense sector plays an important role in protecting the country and advancing towards socialism, especially in the context of the current complicated world situation.

The Prime Minister emphasized that although the country still faces many difficulties, the Party and State always pay attention to building the Army to become more regular and gradually modern; creating all favorable conditions for the Army to confidently do well in training, be ready for combat, and perform well the task of ensuring national defense and security.

The Prime Minister requested the military to heighten vigilance against all sabotage plots of hostile forces, firmly protect the country's sovereignty, make worthy contributions to the cause of building and firmly defending the Fatherland, worthy of the responsibility entrusted by the Party, State and people./.