Hanoi (VNA) – The Central MilitaryCommission and the Ministry of National Defence held a political-militaryconference in Hanoi on June 28 to review the outcomes of military and defencework in the first half of 2018 and launch tasks for the remaining months.

In his opening speech, Minister of NationalDefence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Vice Secretaryof the Central Military Commission, said in the first six months of this year,the whole army has had certain advantages to carry out military-defence tasksbut also faced many difficulties and challenges requesting officers andsoldiers to make stronger efforts to overcome.

He asked representatives of army units to reviewtask implementation over the last six months in a straightforward manner toclarify shortcomings, causes, and responsibility of each agency and unit.

The outcomes of the conference will helpencourage officers and soldiers in the whole army to make stronger efforts tofulfill the military-defence tasks for 2018, he added.

At the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchighly valued the comprehensive outcomes and the resolve to perform duties byofficers and soldiers. He affirmed that the major socio-economic attainments in2017 and the last six months are greatly attributable to the Vietnam People’sArmy (VPA).

He said the Central Military Commission and theDefence Ministry have done a good job of giving military-defence advice to theParty and State. They have also proposed sound, timely and effective reactionsto any circumstances that have emerged.

The Government leader applauded their activepreparation of a resolution and an implementation plan on the defence andmilitary strategies of Vietnam. He also recognised the Defence Ministry’scontributions to the building of some draft laws, including the revised Law onNational Defence, the draft Law on Vietnam Coast Guard, and the draft revisedLaw on Militia and Self-Defence Force.

Particularly, the VPA has worked hard to improveits combat quality and strength, reform the training work, and promote thecapacity of mastering modern weapons and technical equipment, especially in theforces of navy, air defence – air force, information and communication, andelectronic warfare, PM Phuc said.

Regarding military-defence tasks for theremaining six months, the Central Military Commission and the Defence Ministryare set to continue having a good grasp of situation and seriously complying withthe Party’s leadership, the State’s management and the Government’s steering.

They will also push ahead with ensuring combatreadiness and improving effectiveness of the mass mobilisation work, especiallyin strategic and remote areas as well as ethnic minority and religiouscommunities.-VNA