Article by the President commemorating the 70th anniversary of National Resistance Day

The lesson of promoting the strength of national resistance, all-people resistance, and comprehensive resistance is still valuable today.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of National Resistance Day (December 19, 1946 - December 19, 2016), VOV respectfully introduces the full text of President Tran Dai Quang's article: Promoting the spirit of national resistance, accelerating the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, firmly defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

President Tran Dai Quang.

The history of the Vietnamese people is a process of nation building and national defense, full of hardships and sacrifices, but also extremely glorious. Since the Party's leadership, the heroic history of our nation has been continued with brilliant milestones with countless glorious victories in the struggle against French colonialism and American imperialism, national liberation, national unification and in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Immediately after the success of the August Revolution, the newly born Democratic Republic of Vietnam had to face “internal and external enemies”, rampant famine, mounting difficulties, and a “life-threatening” situation. Our Party and President Ho Chi Minh were sharp, clear-sighted, and calm in steering the Vietnamese revolutionary boat through dangerous rapids and gradually moving forward. Standing firmly on the principles of independence, unity, and territorial integrity, the Party proposed a flexible diplomatic strategy, “adapting to all changes with the unchanging”, flexible and appropriate to each period of history in order to divide the enemy, gradually eliminate hostile and reactionary forces, and seize the time to consolidate and develop revolutionary forces.

With the ambition to invade our country once again, the French colonialists were advancing more and more crazily. As the embodiment of Vietnam's will for peace, President Ho Chi Minh did his best to avoid a bloody war for the two peoples of Vietnam and France, but when the enemy forced us to take up arms to defend the Fatherland, our people were not afraid of sacrifice and hardship, and resolutely fought to protect the independence and freedom of the nation.

On the night of December 19, 1946, the nationwide resistance war broke out. Representing the patriotism and indomitable fighting spirit of the nation, President Ho Chi Minh issued the Call for National Resistance, urging all people to rise up and save the country; this was a strategic orientation for all of our people right from the beginning of the resistance war against the invading French colonialists: “We want peace, we must make concessions. But the more concessions we make, the more the French colonialists encroach because they are determined to take over our country again! No! We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, we would rather be slaves... Whoever has a gun will use a gun. Whoever has a sword will use a sword, whoever has no sword will use a hoe, a shovel, or a stick. Everyone must strive to fight the French colonialists to save the country”[1].

President Ho Chi Minh's call for national resistance is the voice of the country, a call to save the nation, strongly arousing national pride, the heroic, indomitable and resilient tradition of our people; urging the whole country to rise up and fight for the sacred independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Responding to President Ho Chi Minh’s call, the army and people of our entire country, with the will to “die for the survival of the Fatherland”, rose up to wage a resistance war against the French colonialists, starting with the fight of the army and people of the capital Hanoi. Together with the army and people of the capital, the army and people of localities throughout the country fought tenaciously, holding back the enemy.

Our Party's resistance line was determined from the beginning to be a people's war, comprehensive, long-term, relying mainly on our own strength, and maximally promoting the combined strength of the entire nation. After nine years of extremely glorious fighting, our army and people defeated the French colonialists and the American interventionists, culminating in the historic Dien Bien Phu victory that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the earth."

The great victory of Dien Bien Phu, one of the most brilliant feats in the history of the nation's struggle against foreign invaders, is the heroic epic of a miraculous people's war, worthy of being "recorded in the history of the nation as a Bach Dang, a Chi Lang or a Dong Da in the 20th century, and entering world history as a brilliant feat of breaking through the stronghold of the colonial slavery system of imperialism"[2], forever the pride of generations of Vietnamese people and oppressed peoples around the world.

The victory of the resistance war against the French colonialists and American intervention had great historical significance, forcing the French colonialists to recognize the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, as President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “For the first time in history, a small and weak colony defeated a powerful colonial country. It was a glorious victory of the Vietnamese people, and at the same time a glorious victory of the forces of peace, democracy and socialism in the world”[3].

The fundamental and decisive cause of victory was the revolutionary line, the independent, autonomous, correct, creative people's war line and the wise and talented leadership and direction of our Party, headed by the great President Ho Chi Minh. That was the victory of the strength of the all-people, all-out resistance, the whole country united, the whole people fighting the enemy, of the intelligence and mettle of the Vietnamese people; the strength of the front and the rear, material and spiritual, modern and traditional, domestic and international; the solidarity of the whole people gathered in a broad national united front, built on the foundation of a solid alliance of workers, peasants and intellectuals; the people's democratic government was firmly maintained, consolidated and strengthened, serving as a sharp tool to organize the whole people's resistance and build a new regime; The armed forces, consisting of three types of troops directly led by our Party, are increasingly strong, fighting bravely, strategically, and intelligently, gradually changing the balance of forces, creating a combined strength to gain final victory.

Studying the process of leading the resistance war against the French colonialists and American intervention by our Party, we can draw many valuable lessons on revolutionary leadership and people's war with profound theoretical and practical value. Notably: (1) It is necessary to set out the correct line and thoroughly implement it widely throughout the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army; that is the line of people's war, all-people resistance, comprehensive, long-term, relying mainly on our own strength, both fighting the resistance war and building the nation.

If in the past our ancestors used “humanity to overcome violence”, “weakness to overcome strength”... then today in the Ho Chi Minh era, under the leadership of the Party, the heroic Vietnamese people have used justice to defeat the invaders, used the strength of great solidarity to defeat the brutal enemies, used the revolutionary war of the entire people to defeat the war of aggression of the colonial invaders. (2) Unite the entire people, the entire people to resist and unite with the people of Laos and Cambodia, with the French people and peace-loving peoples in the world to raise a movement against unjust wars of aggression in the world. (3) Implement the motto of both resisting and building a new regime, building an increasingly strong rear. (4) Proactively propose and implement creative methods of waging war and military art, combining military struggle with political and diplomatic struggle, and coordinating smoothly between battlefields. (5) All Vietnamese people, regardless of party, class, religion, belief... must be steadfast soldiers on the military, economic, political, and cultural fronts, creating a combined strength to bring the resistance to final victory.

The policy of national resistance, all-people resistance, and comprehensive resistance has been tested and proven to be completely correct by the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, and by the practice of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

The lesson of promoting the strength of the national resistance, the all-people resistance, the comprehensive resistance is still valuable today. Promoting the spirit of the national resistance, after more than 30 years of renovation, under the leadership of the Party, the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army have overcome difficulties and challenges, established heroic feats and miracles. Our country has achieved great achievements of historical significance; has emerged from the socio-economic crisis and the state of underdevelopment. The country's strength in all aspects has been enhanced. Foreign relations have been increasingly expanded and deepened, maintaining national independence and sovereignty, creating and maintaining a peaceful environment, taking advantage of favorable factors of the international environment for development.

Vietnam's image and position in the international arena are constantly being enhanced, contributing more and more positively and responsibly to regional and world political life... Those achievements create the premise and important foundation for our country to continue to innovate and develop strongly in the coming years; affirming that the Party's innovation policy is correct and creative; our country's path to socialism is consistent with Vietnam's reality and the development trend of history.

To continue promoting the spirit of the National Resistance, accelerating the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, firmly defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, our entire Party, people and army need to deeply understand the new situation, new requirements and tasks; promote high political determination, continue to comprehensively and synchronously promote the renovation process, take advantage of all opportunities, overcome all difficulties and challenges, and realize the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization".

Consolidate and strengthen the strength of national solidarity combined with the strength of the times, creating a great national aggregate strength. Pay attention to and improve the material and spiritual life of the people, especially families with meritorious services to the country, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, people in remote, isolated and extremely disadvantaged areas. Respect and promote the people's right to mastery, focus on building a healthy cultural and ethical environment, repelling negativity and social evils, preventing cultural and ethical degradation. Promote the core role and exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members, especially leaders at all levels and in all sectors; the active and effective participation of families, schools, communities and the whole society; deploy specific and synchronous solutions to build Vietnamese people who are patriotic, humane, loyal, honest, united, industrious and creative.

Develop mechanisms and policies to closely link cultural construction and human development, cultural development with socio-economic development, economic development with environmental protection. Propaganda, education, and encouragement of patriotism and love for the regime among all people create the combined strength of the entire nation in the work of building, protecting, and developing the country.

Continue to institutionalize and concretize the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, the 2013 Constitution on building socialist democracy. Respect and promote the people's mastery in conjunction with promoting civic responsibility and obligations, and respecting discipline and law enforcement in all areas of social life. In particular, promote the people's role as masters in state management, social management, building clean and strong Party organizations and state agencies. Complete and legalize the functions, tasks, organizational structure and operating mechanisms of state agencies, ensuring the enhancement of national management and governance capacity, and development creation.

Continue to innovate legislative activities and judicial reform in conjunction with continuing administrative reform, building a modern administration that serves the people; build a team of clean, dedicated, professional civil servants with the capacity to design, participate in planning and implement development policies.

Putting national and ethnic interests above all, holding high the flag of peace and justice, in accordance with the common values ​​of humanity; harmoniously resolving national interests with the interests of countries in the region and the world, in accordance with the basic principles of international law; actively participating in resolving issues of common concern, for the common interests of the international community, making practical contributions to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Consistently and creatively implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification and proactive and active international integration. Expand and deepen international cooperation in a sustainable manner; combine the nation's endogenous strength with the contemporary strength of humanity that loves peace, justice and progress; continue to enhance the country's position in the international arena, effectively serving the requirements of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Building a national defense foundation, a national defense posture associated with building and consolidating a solid people's security foundation, a people's security posture and a "people's hearts posture". Strengthening national defense and security, building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite People's Army and People's Police force, gradually modernizing, going straight to modernity in key fields and forces; developing science - technology, defense industry, security, ensuring independence and autonomy.

Enhance revolutionary vigilance, promptly develop strategies to prevent risks of war and conflict, prevent, detect and eliminate unfavorable factors, and avoid being passive or surprised in any situation. Proactively fight to defeat all plots and sabotage activities of hostile and reactionary forces; promptly prevent and refute false information and arguments, repel all types of crimes and social evils; be ready to respond to traditional and non-traditional security threats; ensure information security, safety and network security.

Resolutely and persistently fight to protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, firmly protect the borders and sovereignty over the seas, islands and airspace of the Fatherland; at the same time, maintain a peaceful and stable environment for sustainable national development.

To achieve today's glorious victory, our Party and our people had to overcome countless hardships and challenges. Countless cadres, Party members, comrades and compatriots sacrificed their blood and bones, upholding the heroic spirit of the vanguard class and the nation, upholding the boundless loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the people. Those shining examples will live forever with the revolutionary cause of the Party, the nation and future generations.

Reviewing the spirit of the National Resistance, being proud and confident in the correct and wise leadership of the Party, promoting internal strength, the will to fight and win in the wars of national liberation, defending the Fatherland and Vietnamese revolutionary heroism, more than ever, our entire Party, people and army uphold ardent patriotism, the spirit of fighting and sacrificing for national independence and socialism, not accepting poverty and backwardness, firmly grasping opportunities, overcoming challenges, successfully carrying out the renovation process, promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration, bringing the revolutionary cause of our nation to new heights of victory./.

[1] Ho Chi Minh:Full set,National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2009, vol. 4, p. 480.

[2] Le Duan:Under the glorious flag of the Party, for independence, freedom, for socialism, move forward to gain new victories,Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1976, pp. 55 - 56.

[3] Ho Chi Minh:Full set,National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2009, vol. 10, p. 12./.

General, Professor, Dr. Tran Dai Quang

Member of the Politburo, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

According to VOV