Da Nang (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong had aworking session on December 5 with the Military Region5 Command, which comprises 11 central and Central Highlands localities, on the military-defencesituation in the region.

Thuong hailed the efforts of armed forces in the region in accomplishing their tasks, giving accurate forecast and advice to theParty, State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defenceon military-defence issues, and settling all arising problems.

The forces have strictly maintained combat readiness, closely managing nationalairspace, sea and islands and border, enhancing the strength of the defencearea, while showing strong performance in external military relations, said theState leader.

He lauded the active engagement of officers and soldiers ofMilitary Region 5 in natural disaster prevetion and response as well as searchand rescue activities.

Holding that the world and regional situation is likely to continue to develop complicatedlyand unpredictably, President Thuong asked Military Region 5 to focus on implementingthe resolution of the Party Central Committee’s eighth session on nationaldefence strategy in the new situation as well as relevant resolutions anddirectives on defence-security tasks in association with socio-economicdevelopment in strategic areas.

It is necessary to give accurate analysis, evaluation and forecast on thedefence-security developments in the region to take proper response, firmlyprotecting the national border, sovereignty and territorial integrity, he requested.

Along with building strong armed forces with absolute loyatyto the Party and people, Military Region 5 should enhance the efficiency ofpolitical and ideological education, fighting wrongful and reactionary viewpointsof hostile forces, protecting the ideological foundation of the Party, activelypreventing and combating signs of “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” and “depoliticalisation of the military”, and fostering internal solidarity as well as that between armed forces and the people, Thuong underscored.

The State leader asked Military Region 5 to continuestrictly managing the airspace, sea, border, mainland, cyberspace as well asstrategic areas, while coordinating with the local administrations and otherforces to reinforce the people-based defence, strengthening internationalcooperation to build a borderline of peace, friendship, stability anddevelopment, and providing support to Laos and Cambodia.

Earlier the same day, President Thuong inspected the training and combatreadiness at Tank Brigade 574 under Military Region 5./.