Production and economic development are among the three basic functions and glorious tasks, deeply demonstrating the nature and tradition of the Vietnam People's Army. In response to the requirements and tasks of building and defending the Fatherland in the new period, the entire army is required to continue to uphold its responsibility and better perform the function of a "production force", contributing to consolidating and enhancing the defence potential and national strength.

During the 80-year journey of building, fighting, winning and growing (from 22 December 1944 to 22 December 2024), under the leadership of the Party, our Army has successfully performed the functions of "fighting army, working army, production army"; in which, the function of "production army" has made a lot of important and proud achievements. Those achievements affirm the correct policy of the Party and State in mobilising the Army to participate in production and economic development combined with national defence; at the same time, it deeply demonstrates the role and political responsibility of the Army in carrying out the two strategic tasks of building and safeguarding the Fatherland.

Currently, the country is entering a new era, the era of national development, besides the fundamental advantages, we are also affected by the rapid, complex and unpredictable changes of the world and regional political security situation. In particular, the situation in the East Sea is always complicated with the potential risk of conflict; natural disasters, epidemics, environmental pollution, scarcity of energy and raw materials, have become global issues. Domestically, the economy still has numerous potential risks, the ability to withstand and adapt to external impacts and access the digital economy is still limited; the cause of building the Army and safeguarding the Fatherland poses many challenges; hostile and reactionary forces have intensified their sabotage in all areas, etc. In that situation, along with promoting the functions of the combat and working army, the entire army needs to continue to better perform the function of the "production army", effectively participate in socio-economic development, and create resources for the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland with the focus on the following key contents.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Vu Hai San visits and checks Corporation X20

1. Strengthen the leadership of the Party, the management of the State, directly the Party committees and commanders at all levels in the participation in production and economic development combined with national defence of the Army. The entire army, directly the Party committees and commanders at all levels, need to continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the resolutions and directives of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defence on this important task; focusing on Resolution of the 8th Central Committee (13th tenure) on the Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation; Resolution No. 820-NQ/QUTW, dated 17 December 2021 of the Central Military Commission on "Leading the task of production and economic development combined with national defence of the Army until 2030". On that basis, review, develop and perfect strategies, programmes, plans, and projects participating in economic development combined with national defence in a practical and effective manner. To ensure production activities and economic development combined with national defence in accordance with the policies and resolutions of the Party, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, the agencies need to closely coordinate with ministries, branches, and localities to review, supplement, and complete the system of documents related to production tasks; mechanisms and policies to prioritise resource mobilisation, land use, capital allocation and use, etc., to facilitate the Army's participation in the implementation of the National Target Programme; the Project on socio-economic development, ensuring national defence and security in key areas, sea areas, islands, border belts, and economic-defence zones.

Along with that, Party committees and commanders of agencies, units, and localities should step up propaganda, education, and raise awareness among soldiers and the entire population about the viewpoints and policies on combining economy with national defence, national defence with economy of the Party and State. The entire army should be unanimously aware that participating in production and economic development combined with national defence is a regular, strategic, fundamental, long-term task and the nature and fine tradition of our Army. Thus, we can effectively fight against the distorted arguments of hostile forces about the functions and tasks of production and economic development as well as protecting the prestige and revolutionary nature of the Army.

2. Improve the operational efficiency of economic-defence zones along with building defence zones, consolidating the national defence posture associated with the increasingly solid people's security posture. On the basis of existing economic-defence zones, the Ministry's functional agencies continue to research and advice on organisational adjustments, innovation of methods, as well as investment to improve the operational efficiency of economic-defence groups according to the Master Plan for construction and development of economic-defence zones until 2030 in accordance with the roadmap, capable of completing assigned tasks. At the same time, focus appropriate investment resources on economic sectors where the Army has advantages in sea and island areas; focus on building strong marine economic groups, acting as the core in economic development combined with consolidating national defence in the sea and island areas of the Fatherland. Continue to build and promote the effectiveness of dual-use industries and sectors, such as: seaport services, logistics, oil and gas protection, marine tourism, shipbuilding, repair of ships and weapons, equipment for forces operating at sea, fishing logistics service centres, seafood exploitation. Actively participate in building economic - scientific - technological centres for defence and security according to a multi-purpose model, partly self-sufficient in economy and activities combining economy with defence on near-shore island chains, etc. as a fulcrum for people to "go offshore, stick to the sea", etc.

3. Accelerate the progress of rearrangement, restructure, innovate, and improve the operational efficiency of military enterprises. Thoroughly grasping and implementing Conclusion No. 1815-KL/QUTW, dated 3 March 2023 of the Central Military Commission on continuing to implement Resolution No. 425-NQ/QUTW, dated 18 May 2017 "On reorganising, innovating and improving the operational efficiency of military enterprises by 2020 and the following years" and the Project on restructuring military enterprises for the period 2021 - 2025 of the Ministry of National Defence, enterprises in the entire army, especially the core ones, need to promote restructuring and innovation, improve operational efficiency, ensure sufficient competitiveness and development in the harsh conditions of the market economy and deep international integration. The implementation process must be closely linked to the Project on organising the Vietnam People's Army for the period of 2021 - 2030 and the following years, the Project on Planning the Vietnam Defence Industry and the Government's orientation for the development of state-owned enterprises. Focus on building and promoting the role of the business community in the Army in the spirit of Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW, dated 10 October 2023 of the Politburo (13th tenure) and Plan No. 2663-KH/QUTW, dated 28 February 2024 of the Central Military Commission, etc. In the immediate future, focus on consolidating and developing a number of corporations with advanced and modern science and technology, suitable scale, effective operation, high dual-use, capable of serving well for military and defence tasks, in line with the Army's equipment strategy. To achieve high efficiency, agencies, units and enterprises need to promote innovation of mechanisms, improve management capacity, governance and operational efficiency of enterprises, link socio-economic development tasks with the implementation of military and defence tasks, ensure long-term stable development; be ready to transfer tasks to defence status when situations arise. At the same time, focus on promoting the role, responsibility and active and effective participation of economic sectors in combination with expanding international cooperation, taking advantage of scientific and technological achievements and other resources, improving production and business capacity, both ensuring defence tasks and serving people's lives; maintaining and improving professional skills, preserving a high-quality workforce, meeting the requirements of building the Army and protecting the Fatherland.

4. Promote foreign economic activities, attract investment to serve military and defence tasks. In the process of international economic integration, in the coming time, our country will have to fully implement its commitments within the framework of new-generation free trade agreements; this is an opportunity for development, but also poses numerous difficulties and challenges. Therefore, to take advantage of opportunities, overcome challenges, promote foreign economic activities, international integration with defence and security tasks, functional agencies and enterprises need to study, grasp the situation, advise the Ministry of National Defence to develop and perfect strategies and plans for foreign economic activities, international integration in line with the practical situation. Promote and introduce defence industrial products researched and manufactured by Vietnam. To achieve high efficiency, the authorities must coordinate closely with state management agencies in foreign economic activities to advise the Ministry of National Defence to propose to the Government to develop and promulgate preferential policies, encourage and support international cooperation activities, foreign investment, and protect the interests of enterprises in the process of investing and doing business abroad. Improve the effectiveness of market research, investment and business partners to expand international cooperation in the fields of production, business, research and application of science and technology, and technological innovation, in order to mobilise external resources to consolidate and enhance national defence potential, contributing to safeguarding the Fatherland early and from afar.

5. Effectively exploit assigned resources, manage and carry out production activities combined with national defence in agencies, permanent units and units assigned to provide public services. In the entire army, first of all, the Party Committees and commanders of standing units need to thoroughly grasp and deeply understand their responsibilities in carrying out production; make the most of available resources for production and economy development in accordance with the specific conditions of the unit and locality. At the same time, effectively implement models of concentrated production, extra-production and processing associated with the construction of logistics and technical bases in the defence area, contributing to creating material wealth, improving and enhancing the material and spiritual life of soldiers. Units assigned to provide public services continue to accelerate the progress of reorganisation and financial autonomy associated with the implementation of military and defence tasks. During the implementation process, agencies and units need to strictly implement state laws and regulations of the Ministry of National Defence on the management and use of defence land for production and economic development activities, ensuring the right purpose, avoiding complaints that may affect the reputation of the Army.

Along with that, to improve the effectiveness of the Army's participation in production and economic development associated with national defence, agencies and units continue to review and complete regulations on functions, tasks, powers, and working relationships of the directing agency on production and economic development tasks; unify the agency managing production and economic development activities in units throughout the army; clearly define the state management function and the agency representing the owner of state capital, the management, operation and supervision functions at enterprises according to the provisions of law. Supplement and complete the mechanism and policies to attract and recruit high-quality human resources, meet labour needs, suitable for each field and profession of production and economic development activities for defence units and enterprises. Promote the application of information technology, digital transformation in management and direction of economic activities combined with national defence, etc.

Proud of the results and achievements over the past 80 years, the entire army continues to further promote the role of "a production army", together with the entire Party, the entire people and the political system to successfully achieve the goal of "soon turning our country into a basically modern industrialised country", "building a lean, strong, and gradually modernised army, striving to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern army by 2030" and further enhance the nature and tradition of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era.

Senior Lieutenant General VU HAI SAN, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defence