The elderly, with their personal prestige, experience and pool of knowledge, should continue to serve as a mainstay for their local administration and residents, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

The Party chief made the remarks at his reception for a delegation of elderly persons who are prominent in the defence of sovereignty and security at border areas, seas and islands in Hanoi on December 12.

The Party leader emphasized that safeguarding the borderline and islands – which are seen as fences to shield the country – is necessary, considering such activities as ways to promote economic development and poverty reduction.

He praised the elderly guests for not only contributing to protecting the national sovereignty and security but also enhancing people-to-people exchanges to build the country’s shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

He urged the elderly to take a lead in the national construction and defence course in the time to come as numerous difficulties lie ahead during the process.

General Secretary Trong affirmed that the Party and State always take care of the material and spiritual life of old people and will instruct relevant ministries, sectors and localities to enact the Law on Elderly Persons effectively.-VNA