(VNF) - President Tran Dai Quang on January 30 visited officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Region 3, stationed in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, on ocassion of the Lunar New Year (Tet).

Talking with the officers and soldiers, the President hailed their performance in the year 2017. In particular, he highlighted the role of the Vietnam Coastal Guard in assisting the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense in proposing to the Party and the State timely and accurate policies and solutions to handling complicated incidents at sea, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

President Tran Dai Quang visits ship CBS 8020

The President also lauded the force’s effective work in monitoring the operation of foreign vessels and protecting maritime economic activities, as well as in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, and rescue operations at sea.

He also took the ocassion to urge the coast guard force and the Coast Guard Region 3 to continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with the navy, border guard, coastal military regions, and all-level Party Committees and authorities, as well as enhance international cooperation to ensure security, safety and protect the country's territorial seas and islands.

In 2017, the Coast Guard Region 3 received 934 Vietnamese fishermen from Indonesia who had been captured for illegal fishing in the country’s waters.

In November, the unit rescued 52 people stranded on islands and offshore fishing farms during typhoon Damrey.

On this occasion, President Quang visited and presented gifts to families of social welfare policies in Ba Ria-Vung Tau./.

( VNF )