PANO – The Central Military Commission (CMC) and the Ministry of National Defence (MND) on February 16th held a New Year meeting for nearly 500 retired senior officers of Military Zone 7 (MZ7). General Ngo Xuan Lich, Chief of the General Department of Politics, chaired the meeting.

Delegates at the meeting.

On behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, General Ngô Xuân Lịch briefed the delegates on domestic and international situations, the results of the 12th National Party Congress as well as defence-military missions in 2015.

The general stressed the fact that despite complicated international situations, under the sound leadership of the Party and CMC and with the close management of MND, the people’s consensus and great national unity, and the pro-activeness and creativity of the whole army, Vietnam has overcome difficulties to firmly safeguard independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, enhance socio-economic development, improve people’s living standard, and strengthened Vietnam’s position in the international arena.

Lich highly appreciated the contribution of the delegates to the cause of national construction and defence. He expressed hope that the senior officers would always uphold the virtue of Uncle Ho’s soldiers to set examples for younger generations to follow, and continue to contribute advice to the CMC, MND, MZ7 and local authorities so as to build a firm whole people’s defence disposition.

The New Year meeting concluded in the warm comradeship, the strong belief in the leadership of the Party, and the hope for a brighter future of Vietnam in general and the Vietnam People’s Army in particular.

Translated by Huu Duong