Hai Phong (VNA) – National Assembly(NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visited the High Command of Military Region3 and the Vietnam People’s Navy in the northern city of Hai Phong on December20.

At the meeting with the Military Region 3 HighCommand, the top legislator congratulated its officers and soldiers on the 75thfounding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army.

She stressed that Military Region 3 is astrategic defence area in the northeast of Vietnam, covering nineprovincial-level localities, including five coastal ones, and pointed out thatalthough peace and cooperation will still be the main trend in relations amongcountries in the region and the world, to push ahead with nationalindustrialisation and modernisation in all fields, the entire Party, people andarmy, including Military Region 3’s armed forces, must exert every effort tofulfill all tasks in the new context.

Chairwoman Ngan asked the forces to enhancetheir defence capacity to thwart all sabotage plots of hostile forces andfirmly defend the Motherland, continually improve training quality, closelycoordinate with local authorities to promote the all-people defence, and stayready to deal with any circumstances in line with the Party’s guidelines andthe State’s laws.

She expressed her belief that by upholding theirtraditions, Military Region 3 will harvest even greater successes in nationaldevelopment and defence.

Visiting the navy the same day, the NA leadercongratulated its officers, soldiers and staff on the 75th anniversary of theVietnam People’s Army.

She said the navy is an important part of thepeople’s armed forces and noted that facing intertwined opportunities andchallenges in 2019, especially the complex and unpredictable situation in theEast Sea, the navy’s officers and soldiers have successfully accomplished theirmilitary and defence tasks, affirming the country’s resolve and persistence insafeguarding the sovereignty at sea, and protecting fishermen working in thesea areas adjacent to other nations’.

The NA chairwoman praised the navy’sachievements, asking it to further bring into play its role in building theall-people defence, develop economic-defence zones at sea, support and protectfishermen at sea, and engage in disaster prevention, search and rescue work.

The navy needs to step up relations with othercountries’ navies both bilaterally and multilaterally so as to boost mutualunderstanding and trust and promote its stature in the international arena, shesaid.

Ngan also requested the force to activelyincrease cooperation with navies of the neighbouring countries to peacefullysettle issues related to overlapping waters, and seek comprehensive andlong-term solutions to prevent conflict risks in order to help sustain peace,stability, security and safety of navigation, as well as cooperation anddevelopment in the region.

The leader voiced her belief that officers andsoldiers of the navy will continue making efforts to weather every difficultyand achieve greater attainments to firmly safeguard the country’s sacredmaritime sovereignty and continental shelf while maintaining a peaceful andstable environment for national development.

On this occasion, she made a video call to cadres, soldiersand people of Truong Sa island district./.