President: Reinforcing national defence and development

President Truong Tan Sang made this remark on April 27 at a ceremony in the northern province of Thanh Hoa to bestow the “Hero of the Armed Forces in the Renewal Period” title on the province’s armed forces.

President Sang said that national construction and defence are Vietnam’s two main strategic tasks. He noted that amidst the complicated situation in the world, the Vietnamese Party, army and people need to fulfil the tasks of industrialization, modernization and international integration in order to develop Vietnam into an industrialized nation by 2020.

Sang added that Thanh Hoa has a strategic position in national defence and it should take its major role and responsibility seriously.

To accomplish this historical mission, the Party Committee, administration, armed forces and people of Thanh Hoa need to thoroughly understand the Strategy for National Defence in the new situation, consolidate an all-people force and consolidate military and economic development tasks.

The full strength of the people should be brought into play, along with the entire provincial political system, to promote national defence and security, Sang said.

The President also asked Thanh Hoa to continue building strong armed forces by educating them in ideological politics, strengthening discipline and improving the quality of military personnel training to ensure they are absolutely loyal to the Party, fatherland and people.