The army doing business is taking on work that even state-owned enterprises do not do.

The military doing business also has to shoulder political tasks and tasks that even state-owned enterprises do not do, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan shared.

After the debate about "whether the army does business or not", a scientific discussion was organized by the People's Army newspaper today with the theme "Combining economy with national defense - a long-term strategic task", with the participation of many representatives inside and outside the Ministry of National Defense.

Protective genes are dominant, economic genes are complementary

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan commented for 40 minutes on this issue, but right from the beginning, he expressed: "When I received the invitation, I was a bit surprised because this matter is as clear as day, there is no need to discuss it."

"Our Party has put forward the view that national defense is linked to the economy, and the economy is linked to national defense. This has been included in the Party's documents and Article 68 of the 2013 Constitution. The Platform clearly states that national defense and security are combined with the economy in each strategy, planning, and socio-economic development plan in each locality," he quoted.

Recounting his own family experience, when both his father and brothers were managers in military enterprises, the former Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged: "The military unit does business, but the political factor is very clear. The gene for protecting the country is still the dominant gene, the economic gene is the complementary gene."

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan shares about economic tasks in the army. Photo: Trong Hai

He also said: "In the military's economic activities, production is the main factor, business is lower. In particular, the military takes on socio-political tasks that no one else can do. For example, we believe that state-owned enterprises do things that private enterprises do not do, so the military must also do things that even state-owned enterprises do not do."

"For example, building a border patrol road, no one can do it. The task was initially assigned to the locality but the locality did it in a mess. Later, the people's army did it and only the army could do it. Thanks to that, we have the road along the border like today," the former Deputy Prime Minister cited.

He noted: "The military's economic activities are within the framework of the law. But because of the diversity of the military, it is impossible to apply the market economy purely. Therefore, it is necessary to have specific characteristics and build a diverse economic system for the military forces to do business. If we apply the civilian economic system as is, it will not work, it will be confusing, and public opinion may misunderstand."

In particular, the former Deputy Prime Minister frankly said: "Like other elements in society, the economic force of the army cannot avoid negative occurrences. The struggle to clean up the army cannot be avoided, and must be done even more. Because the army's reputation will affect the safety of the nation."

Need a Central Resolution on military economic activities

Professor Hoang Chi Bao shared his assessment that the military's functions and tasks need to be examined with modern thinking, especially in economic integration.

"From the practice of building and defending the country, through the two resistance wars against France and the US, the role of the army in combat is very clear. But there is also an undeniable historical mark of the army in production and economic development. We have a whole team of defense workers who not only contribute to the military but also to civilian affairs," said Professor Bao.

Scientific seminar on economic and defense combination organized by People's Army newspaper. Photo: Trong Hai

He said: "In the future, military enterprises will be equitized to perfect the socialist-oriented market economy, but that does not mean the military will no longer do business. On the contrary, the military needs to continue participating in applying scientific and technological research."

Looking back through history, Major General, Dr. Vo Hong Thang, Director of the Economic Department, Ministry of National Defense, explained the necessity of an economy in the army.

"Our border is about 4,500 km long, the coastline is more than 3,000 km long. The lives of people in many areas are still backward and difficult, many places have no people, no government, no party members. Therefore, we need an army to stand by, with the task of bringing people to live, helping people reclaim land, develop the local economy, settle down, create a position of people's hearts, and mobilize people to firmly protect the Fatherland," the Major General analyzed.

He said: "The army established defense economic groups to carry out this task. Currently, the whole country has implemented 28/33 defense economic zones. If there is a war, these defense economic groups will become the fighting force, protecting the people and the Fatherland."

He also added: "Many defense production facilities that are cared for by the State are also relatively modern and must meet the requirements during wartime. If in peacetime only 20-30% of them are used, it will cause material loss, waste, and be a crime against the State and the people. Therefore, these defense facilities must be allowed to produce to make the best use of the technological chain."

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan concluded: "The first purpose of the military doing business is to increase the military's own strength, thereby increasing the national strength. The military does business to build an independent and self-reliant economy with defense equipment."

The former Deputy Prime Minister suggested that the Ministry of National Defense should have a fundamental summary of this issue in the past 30 years of renovation. The policy and tasks of economic activities in the military need to be in a document at the Politburo level, and a resolution issued by the Central Committee is needed to avoid misleading propaganda about the military's economic role.

According to VNN