Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has called for the establishment of an elite, professional, and rapidly deployable international search and rescue force to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to global humanitarian emergencies and expand its contribution to international disaster relief efforts.
Speaking at a ceremony in Hanoi honoring Vietnamese military and public security personnel who participated in rescue operations following the devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela, the Prime Minister praised the contingent for demonstrating courage, professionalism, discipline, and humanitarian values. He said their mission reflected Vietnam’s growing role as a responsible and compassionate member of the international community.
Prime Minister Hưng stressed that Vietnam should develop a highly trained rescue force equipped with advanced expertise in emergency response, disaster management, and medical assistance, capable of deploying swiftly to both domestic and international emergencies. He emphasized that enhancing the country’s search and rescue capabilities would contribute to regional and global humanitarian efforts while strengthening national resilience against natural disasters and other crises.
He noted that a nation’s strength is measured not only by its economic performance, defence capabilities, or technological advancement, but also by its willingness and capacity to share responsibility with the international community during times of crisis. The Prime Minister said Vietnam would continue investing in modern equipment, specialized training, and international cooperation to improve disaster response capabilities and support humanitarian missions abroad.
The ceremony recognized the achievements of the Vietnamese rescue mission deployed to Venezuela, where military and public security personnel assisted local authorities in search, rescue, and relief operations following the earthquakes. The successful mission further enhanced Vietnam’s reputation for international solidarity and humanitarian cooperation.
