The meeting was attended by Senior Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet, Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA); Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the VPA and Deputy Minister of National Defense; and other ministry leaders.
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General Phan Van Giang chairs the Ministry of National Defense's meeting on October 3. |
It was acknowledged that in September, the Standing Board of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense led the military to successfully complete a wide range of defense and military tasks. Notably, the military played a key role in responding to and mitigating the consequences of Typhoon Yagi. The military actively participated in civil defense efforts, deploying over 154,000 troops, 5,500 vehicles, and assisting with the evacuation of more than 100,700 households and 400,900 people. More than 118,300 ships and vessels were safely relocated to safe shelters. The military also adjusted response plans for storm and flood scenarios, deploying 149,500 additional personnel and 4,330 vehicles to assist with flood recovery, search and rescue operations, and infrastructure repair. In addition, the military contributed nearly VND 146 billion and provided 66 tons of food for disaster-affected regions.
During the meeting, Gen. Giang received reports via video from commanding officers of military units involved in search and rescue missions at the Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province and the construction of resettlement houses in Lang Nu village of Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province.
Due to strong flood currents, the pontoon bridge construction at Phong Chau was temporarily suspended. Gen. Giang instructed the Engineering Corps to collaborate with Military Region 2 and the Phu Tho provincial authorities to explore the possibility of using military ferries to transport people across the river. He also urged those building resettlement houses in Lang Nu village to accelerate their efforts while ensuring safety and proper logistical support.
In his concluding remarks, the Defense Minister commended the whole-military for their effective response to Typhoon Yagi and urged continued vigilance in combat readiness and close monitoring of strategic areas, borders, airspace, and cyberspace. He emphasized the importance of preparing legal documents, such as the revised Law on Officers of the VPA and the Law on People's Air Defense, and other papers for upcoming 15th National Assembly’s 8th extraordinary meeting.
The military was also directed to strengthen political and ideological education work, enhance defense external affairs, and promote activities in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the VPA (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People's National Defense Festive Day (December 22, 1989 - 2024). The defense leader called for advancing administrative reforms, fostering e-government development in the military, and applying scientific and technological advancements in military operations.
Translated by Trung Thanh