Combining socio-economic development with defence and security enhancement is an important issue in the cause of national construction and defence, which has been stipulated in many Party congresses. However, during the implementation of this combination, besides the achieved results, there remain many limitations both in awareness and effectiveness. This requires that we further grasp, improve awareness and implementation capacity for this important policy.

In our history of nation construction and defence, economy and national defence are two closely-linked, fundamental issues that create potentials and synergy to build and protect the Fatherland in all situations, both in peacetime and in the event of war. Inheriting that precious tradition, imbuing and creatively applying Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought, our Party has issued many sound undertakings and policies in line with Vietnam’s revolutionary reality, simultaneously undertaking two strategic tasks, namely: national construction and defence. This is a valuable traditional lesson, the law of existence and development of the nation.

In the period of renewal, from the 6^th to the 13^th National Congresses, our Party has always adhered to the policy of socio-economic development combined with defence and security strengthening. Accordingly, all levels, branches and localities have thoroughly grasped, synchronously and comprehensively implemented guidelines and solutions, gradually developed thinking and perfected the theory of this combination. In fact, effectiveness has been seen in the implementation of this combination in each strategy, master plan, plan and policy for socio-economic development in each region, area and in the whole country. In its turn, socio-economic development has really created an important premise and driving force to strengthen national defence potential, develop the armed forces and consolidate the all-people defence and people's security posture.

In the coming time, to realise the goal of strengthening national potentials and synergy, firmly defending the Fatherland, our Party clearly stipulates that: "To combine closely and effectively economy, culture, society, foreign relations with national defence and security, and national defence and security with economy, culture, society and foreign affairs". To put that policy into practice, all levels, branches and localities should focus on comprehensively and synchronously implementing measures to improve awareness and implementation capacity for this combination in each region and throughout the whole country.

1. Combining socio-economic development with strengthening national defence and security in order to successfully perform the two strategic tasks of national construction and defence. Fully aware of the importance of socio-economy and national defence and security, our Party clearly states: "Concretise and effectively implement the relationship between the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Vietnam socialist Fatherland in the strategies of socio-economic development, Fatherland protection, in the fields of economy, culture, society, national defence, security and foreign affairs; in strategic regions, and in each specific task, program or plan”. All levels, branches and localities should continue to study and clarify the content of the combination between socio-economy and defence and security, especially in foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, joint venture projects with foreign enterprises, in defence areas, especially key and sensitive ones in defence and security. In the planning and implementation of socio-economic development plans, programs and projects, attention must be paid to the relationship between national construction and defence, between economy, culture, society and defence, security, foreign affairs and vice versa. It is necessary to perfect the mechanism for linking the defence and security strategy to the socio-economic development strategy; build an inter-connected and synchronous coordination mechanism between ministries and branches and localities, between key economic zones and defence areas.

Improving the knowledge, capacity and upholing the responsibility of the leadership, especially the leading and key officials at all levels in performing the task of combining socio-economic with national defence and security. Continue to review and perfect the system of documents related to the combination, creating a favourable legal corridor for ministries, branches, localities, economic organisations and people to implement. Have a synchronous and comprehensive mechanism and policy; prioritise resources for national projects and programs on socio-economic development, national defence and security in coastal, islands, border, and key areas, and economic - defence zones.

2. Building and developing the defence and security industry in order to strengthen the national potential and strength. On the basis of summarising 10 years of implementation of Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW of the Politburo (11^th tenure), the whole army, especially the defence industry, should continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW, dated January 26, 2022 of the Politburo (13^th tenure) on Facilitating the development of defence industry to 2030 and beyond, as well as the conclusions, schemes, programs and plans of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on the development of defence industry to make it suitable with the National Defence Strategy, Military Strategy, and the requirements of building an all-people national defence. Build and develop the defence industry in the direction of self-reliance, modernity, dual-use, becoming the spearhead of national industry, contributing to enhancing military and defence potential and strength of the country. Restructure key defence industrial facilities in all three regions in accordance with the strategic defensive posture.

Along with that, the defence industry should make a breakthrough in restructuring its organisation in the direction of lean, compact, and strong, with priorities being given to sectors and fields directly serving national defence and security. Having investment mechanisms and policies for high-quality human resources to meet both immediate and long-term requirements; focus on developing top managers and experts, science and technology staff who are capable of exploiting and mastering modern technology, and striving to have "Chief engineers".  Closely combine the research, improvement and production of existing weapons and equipment with the research and production of some types of modern weapons and equipment, serving the goal of Military modernisation; strengthen international cooperation and export of defence industry products. Innovate and improve the quality and efficiency of scientific and technological research, focusing on the capacity of designing and manufacturing new weapons. Step up the application of scientific achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to the research and manufacturing of weapons and technical equipment.

3. Enhancing practical review and developing theories on socio-economic combined with national defence and security. Ministries and branches at the central and local levels should actively develop plans to review practice and pilot models of "combining economy with national defence, security and defence, security with economy" for replication and bringing into play the strength of the entire political system, the Party, the people and the army in the performance of this task.

Review content must be comprehensive, focusing on the awareness of all levels, branches and localities towards this important task; the plan and strategy for socio-economic development; system of legal documents, mechanisms and regulations on coordination and cooperation; methods and ways of implementation of levels, sectors, fields, localities, etc. Review should be unified, honest, objective, scientific, dialectical and broadly-visioned. It should properly assess the current situation; specify objective and subjective causes and  generalise into theories as basis for improving the efficiency of the combination. Review should be conducted in a scientific, rigorous, decentralised, periodical manner and associated with the review of resolutions, strategies, plans, programs, and projects on socio-economy, national defence and security, such as: Socio-economic development strategy, Strategy for Fatherland protection in the new situation, Strategy for national security protection , etc.

Combining socio-economic development with strengthening national defence and security is a strategic and sound policy of the Party, requiring all levels, branches and localities to thoroughly grasp and implement with creative and appropriate measures and methods, contributing to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks of the revolution, namely building and firmly defending the Vietnam socialist Fatherland.

Sr. Lt. Gen., Assoc Prof  TRAN VIET KHOA, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Director of the National Defence Academy