Building a strong national defense to create momentum for socio-economic development

PV: Dear Colonel Pham Van Dong,Nghe An landis a strategic location, playing an important role in the country's development process, including the important contributions of the province's armed forces. Could you please tell us more about this, Colonel?

Colonel Pham Van Dong:Nghe An province has an important strategic position in terms of economy, culture, society, national defense and security of Military Region 4 and the whole country, with the largest area in the country, a population of more than 3.3 million people (the 4th largest in the country). During the two resistance wars against France and the US, Nghe An was both a major frontline of the North and a direct rear base of the major frontline of the South and the Lao revolution. Tens of thousands of soldiers and people of Nghe An persevered and steadfastly overcame all difficulties, hardships and sacrifices, participated in combat and served in combat on the battlefields, and fought with the whole country to regain independence and freedom for the Fatherland.

Colonel Pham Van Dong presents gifts to the families of 22 martyrs who died in Huong Hoa district (Quang Tri). Photo: PV

The achievements of the army and people of Nghe An have contributed significantly to the victory of the two resistance wars for national liberation and national reunification. In 1975, the South was completely liberated and the Fatherland was unified. The officers and soldiers of the provincial armed forces focused on building and consolidating forces, training, and being ready to fight to meet the new requirements of the revolutionary cause, while at the same time joining hands with the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people to overcome the consequences of war and promote socio-economic development.

When the border war happened, tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers, the children of Nghe An, continued to set out, overcoming all hardships and fierceness to support the battlefields in the country and in neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia, while at the same time coordinating with other forces to proactively attack, sweep, and suppress reactionaries who disrupt public order and security and destroy plots to sabotage our country's revolution.

PV: What about in peacetime, Colonel?

Colonel Pham Van Dong:Entering the period of national renewal, facing the demands of reality and the complex changes of the situation in the country, the region and the world, the army and people of Nghe An continue to promote the revolutionary tradition and maintain a strong political stance, steadfast in the revolutionary ideals of the Party according to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, the provincial armed forces have constantly matured in terms of politics, ideology and organization, always ready to fight. At the same time, they have actively and proactively advised effectively on activities related to socio-economic construction and development, and strengthening national defense and security (QP - AN).

Nghe An soldiers help people with irrigation. Photo: PV

Promoting revolutionary traditions, clearly recognizing the purpose and special importance of the task of building all-people national defense (ND) in the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, in recent years, the work of building all-people national defense (ND) in the province has always received attention from Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, departments, branches and organizations at all levels, comprehensively deployed in all fields and achieved important results.

PV: Building a strong defense zone is one of the important tasks in recent years. So how is this work being carried out in Nghe An, Colonel?

Colonel Pham Van Dong:The construction and operation of defense zones (DPZs) are always under the direct and absolute leadership of Party committees, management and administration of authorities at all levels, and the coordination, consultation and implementation of military agencies, police, border guards and local departments, agencies, branches and organizations.

The potential and posture of the KVPT are built tightly, proactively selecting and standardizing the military and police cadres, acting as the core in advising, directing, guiding, promoting the internal strength of the masses, and building potentials in the KVPT. Party committees and authorities at all levels have concretized laws, ordinances, decrees, regulations and instructions from superiors on national defense and security, promptly issuing leadership and direction policies that are appropriate to each locality.

Provincial leaders inspect the Defense Zone Exercise Command. Photo: PV

The role of the military agency in presiding over coordination with all levels and sectors to advise and organize the implementation of building potentials in the KVPT in recent times has been promoted. The province has also focused on completing the military strategy planning, implementing projects and civil works items combined to serve military and defense tasks.

In addition, the provincial armed forces are regularly led, directed, and well organized by Party committees and authorities at all levels in each stage, building an increasingly strong people's armed forces according to the motto "lean, compact, strong, effective and efficient operations". The militia and self-defense force is built by the province according to the motto "strong, widespread"...

Reporter: In the coming years, the world and regional situation is forecast to continue to have complicated developments. So, what directions and tasks does the provincial LVVT have to continue to build a strong national defense and create momentum for socio-economic development, Colonel?

Colonel Pham Van Dong:Hostile and reactionary forces always identify Nghe An as a key area for sabotage, the situation of rural security, urban security, border security, and criminal activities on the border lines tend to become more and more complicated and increase... From the above situation, in the coming time, it is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp and synchronously and effectively implement a number of policies and solutions such as focusing on building national defense potential, especially paying attention to political and spiritual potential. Strengthening the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels; raising awareness and responsibility of the entire political system and the entire people for the task of building a national defense foundation in the new situation.

Nghe An troops practice at the training ground. Photo: PV

Second, we must continue to build a solid national defense posture associated with the national security posture, build a strong military zone, meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland in all situations. Promote the effectiveness of the activities of the Economic - Defense Group stationed in the area, programs and projects to continuously improve the quality of people's lives, firmly protect the area, build a solid national defense posture from the grassroots level....

At the same time, it is necessary to focus on building a strong people's armed forces with comprehensive quality and high combat power, truly being the core force in the construction and operation of the national defense. Building a local army, militia and reserve force that is strong in politics, ideology and organization, taking political construction as the basis. Innovating and improving the quality of training, education and training according to Resolution No. 765-NQ/QUTW dated December 20, 2012 of the Central Military Commission, focusing on improving the ability to master and skillfully use weapons and equipment in the establishment, new and modern technical equipment. The forces proactively coordinate closely to grasp, assess and correctly forecast the situation, proactively detect early and improve the ability to coordinate and fight according to the plan and combat plan in the KVPT.

Nghe An Military Forces review the troops on the first day of training. Photo: PV

Another important task is to closely combine socio-economic development with strengthening national defense and security and foreign affairs; focus on developing key economic sectors, marine economy, building economic-defense zones, transport infrastructure, and seaports. Promote the role of military, police, and border agencies in appraising and giving opinions on socio-economic development projects, especially projects with foreign investment capital and projects related to key areas of national defense and security.

PV: Yes, thank you, Colonel!