Reliance on the people and special care for building strong “people’s heart and mind posture” are a consistent perspective and strategic guideline of the Party, which have been further affirmed in the “Strategy to Safeguard the Fatherland in the new situation”. Deep understanding and successful implementation of this perspective are key to defending the Fatherland firmly in the new situation.

On inheriting the tradition of national construction and defence, throughout the process of leading the revolutionary cause, our Party and President Ho Chi Minh have deeply grasped the lesson on taking people as the roots and brought into full play the significant role and power of the people in the struggle for national liberation as well as building and protection of the Fatherland. More importantly, in the reform period, the building of “people’s heart and mind posture” has drawn great attention of our Party and become the deciding factor in the sussess of national construction and defence.

On deeply perceiving the pivotal role and power of “people’s heart and mind posture,” after 20 years’ reform, the 10th Party Congress affirmed that: “Establishment of ‘people’s heart and mind posture’ serves as the foundation for tapping into the overall power of the country.” In documents of the following congresses and many of its resolutions and directives, our Party basically affirmed the decisive, important role of the people and “people’s heart and mind posture” to the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland while emphasising the need for further promoting the building of this posture in the new situation.

Specifically, on the basis of reviewing 10 years’ implementation of the Resolution of the 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (11th tenure), the Party Central Committee promulgated the Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW, dated 24 November 2023, on the Strategy to Safeguard the Fatherland in the New Situation. The Resolution continues to refer to the view that leveraging people’s great role in the cause of national construction and defence; effectively carrying out the all-people national defence and people’s war under the motto of relying on the people and “taking people as the roots”; establishing robust “people’s heart and mind posture”; and guaranteeing a peaceful and happy life for the people are the deciding factors in the success of national construction and defence. “To rely on the people, to take people as the roots, to tap into self-reliance, resilience, cultural and patriotic tradition, and power of the great national unity bloc, and to guarantee a peaceful and happy life for the people are key to all victories of the cause of building and defending the Fatherland,” said General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the closing session of 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (13th tenure). Thus, to care about building strong “people’s heart and mind posture” is a strategic viewpoint and vital, regular mission of the Party, State, and the whole political system. It is also the core element of the Strategy to Safeguard the Fatherland in the new situation.

After nearly 40 years’s reform, our country has witnessed drastic, comprehensive developments in every aspect and recorded great achievements of historic significance. The position, force, and overall power of the country are being increasingly enhanced. People’s belief in the Party and State is further promoted. These are the vital premises for protecting the Fatherland from afar. Nevertheless, the cause of defending the Fatherland is also confronting numerous risks and challenges such as limitations and shortcomings in economic, cultural, social development; adverse effects of the disadvantages of the market mechanism; degradation on political ideology, morality, and lifestyle; manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” of some cadres and party members, especially those in high positions; and the increasing gap between rich and poor. In addition, hostile forces’ fierce acts of sabotage aimed at removing the Party’s leadership, “depoliticising” the armed forces, sowing division among the great national unity bloc, driving a wedge between people and the Party and military, etc., are imposing pressing requirements for building “people’s heart and mind posture” and safeguarding the Fatherland today. To continue building and leverage of “people’s heart and mind posture” according to the Resolution of the 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (13th tenure), thus contributing to firm protection of the Fatherland from afar, requires good execution of the following missions.

First, there is a need to raise awareness and responsibility of the whole political system and people for the cause of defending the Fatherland. This is a matter of utmost importance to successful realisation of the Strategy to Safeguard the Fatherland in the New Situation. Only when the whole political system and people soundly and fully understand the cause of protecting the Fatherland will they heighten their sense of responsibility and participate actively, proactively, and effectively in the cause of national defence. This is seen as a bulwark against any risks of war and conflict. Therefore, it is vital to further promote propagation and education aimed at raising awareness and responsibility of the whole Party, people, levels, branches, cadres, and party members for strengthening national defence, security, and protection of the Fatherland. Of note, importance is attached to increased awareness of the Party’s guidelines on military and defence; building of the all-people national defence, people’s security, and all-people defence posture in connection with the people’s security posture with a view to being ready for transforming into the people’s war posture in defence of the Fatherland in the new situation. Additionally, there is need to be well aware of partners of cooperation, objects of struggle, and hostile forces’ plots of sabotage, especially the schemes to sow division among the great national unity bloc, thereby promoting sense of responsibility and revolutionary vigilance during performing the tasks of national defence, security, and protection of the Fatherland.

Second, it is necessary to further step up Party building and rectification, building of a pure, strong political system, and strengthening of people’s belief in the Party’s leadership. This is the decisive solution to building of “people’s heart and mind posture” today, creating a solid foundation for safeguarding the Fatherland in the new situation. Accordingly, the Party building and rectification are to be further carried out drastically, comprehensively, and synchronously in association with stepping up studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style as well as directives and resolutions of the Party concerning cadres’ and party members’ responsibility for setting good examples. Attention should be paid to building of a pure, comprehensively strong State and political system; improvement in regulations on power control; enhanced struggle against corruption and wastefulness; prevention and response to the degradation on political ideology, morality, and lifestyle as well as signs of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party. All activities of the political system, cadres, and civil servants must truly base on legal, legitimate requirements, aspirations, rights, and interests of the people. The corps of cadres and civil servants is to be developed in the direction of truly respecting the people, keep close contact with the people, believing in the people, understanding the people, sympathising with the people, assisting the people, listening to and meeting legal, legitimate aspirations of the people, regularly caring about material and spiritual life of the people. The corps of cadres must be trained in the direction of daring to think, daring to say, daring to do, daring to take responsibility, daring to reform, daring to cope with difficulties and challenges, and daring to act for collective interests and people’s interests.

Third, enhanced economic, cultural, social development, thus accomplishing the objective of “wealthy people, a strong country, and a democratic, just, and civilised society.” In fact, whenever support comes from all people, the country will be powerful. In contrast, whenever there is lack of people’s support, the country will be weak. Therefore, to establish strong “people’s heart and mind posture,” first and foremost requires robust development of the economy, culture, society, health, education, etc., in order to ceaselessly improving people’s material, spiritual life, especially those inhabiting remote area, border area, islands, revolutionary bases, and areas of extreme difficulty. At the same time, it is necessary to have policies on narrowing the gap between rich and poor as well as among regions and areas; achieving social progress and justice; ensuring social security; empowering people to live a prosperous, happy life; guaranteeing that no one is left behind. During the implementation process, it is important to trigger patriotism drastically, bring into full play people’s role and participation, and effectively realise the motto: “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, and the people enjoy.” The Patriotic Emulation Movement is to be promoted with a view to activating all resources, potential, and creativity of Vietnamese people at home and abroad to build a happy, civilised, prosperous, strong country. There is a need to respect and tap into people’s right to govern themselves, care for people’s legitimate aspirations, timely address emerging problems to garner social consensus, encourage the whole people to take part in strengthening national defence and security, promote the struggle for protecting national interests, and aim for fulfilling the goal of national construction and defence.

Fourth, leverage of the pioneering role of the people’s armed forces, first and foremost the People’s Army, in building “people’s heart and mind posture” for safeguarding the Fatherland. Given its functions as an army for combat, an army for work, and an army for production as well as the natures of coming from the people and fighting for the people, the People’s Army is the core force and play a crucial role in building “people’s heart and mind posture.” Thus, on the basis of characteristics and conditions of each area, units regularly and closely cooperate with local party committees and authorities in establishing strong political bases; intensifying mass mobilisation; assisting people in production, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and building of new-style countryside; developing culture and society; preserving and bringing into play national tradition and cultural identity; providing healthcare services; preventing and responding to epidemics and pandemics; dealing with consequences of natural disasters and catastrophes; and conducting search and rescue. It also closely works with the Public Security and other relevant forces to resolutely prevent and combat crimes and social evils, firmly maintain political security, social order, and safety, and build secure areas. The People’s Army resolutely struggles for defeating any plots to sow division between the military and people and among the great national unity bloc, which aims to destroy the “people’s heart and mind posture.” It always seeks to strengthen the intimate connection with people. All cadres and soldiers of the People’s Army must heighten their sense of responsibility for preserving good qualities and fine images of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in people’s hearts and minds in any situations.

Building and tapping into “people’s heart and mind posture” is both a strategic guideline of the Party and the most effective way to generate overall power, solidarity, unity, consensus, and wholehearted support among the whole Party, people, military, and political system, creating a solid foundation for firmly safeguarding the Fatherland from afar.

Senior Colonel, Doctor BUI DINH TIEP, Academy of Politics