The “people’s hearts and minds posture” is an extremely important factor – it is the intrinsic strength that forms the foundation and impetus for our nation’s unity, immortality, and development. Therefore, building the “people’s hearts and minds posture” is always a vital and ongoing task of the Party, the whole population, and the Military. And leveraging the pivotal role of the armed forces of provinces and cities in building this posture continues to be an essential requirement that needs to be thoroughly researched in terms of theory and practice.

In the current global, regional, and domestic situation, there are both favourable opportunities and challenges exist with intertwined complexities. These circumstances give rise to numerous new issues and demand greater and more intensive efforts for the cause of building and safeguarding the Motherland. The Documents of the 13^th Party Congress clearly state: “Enhance the national defence and security potentials; build and vigorously promote the “people’s hearts and minds posture” within the framework of all-people’s national defence and people’s security; build and steadfastly reinforce the all-people’s national defence posture and the people's security posture”, ensuring the resolute defence of the Motherland in all situations. This is a vital and ongoing mission of the Party, the State, the political system, and the entire population; in which the armed forces are the backbone. Therefore, the study and proposal of solutions to enhance the pivotal role of the armed forces of provinces and cities in building the “people’s hearts and minds posture” is a matter of significant theoretical and practical importance, as evidenced in several fundamental aspects below.

First, enhance the pivotal role of the armed forces of provinces and cities in studying and advising on the building of the “people’s hearts and minds posture” for the defence of the Motherland in the new era. It must be affirmed that building a robust “people’s hearts and minds posture” not only contributes to strengthening unity, harmony, and promoting socio-economic development at local and national levels but also provides a foundation for building an all-people national defence and solid provincial and city defence zones, meeting the requirements of Fatherland protection in the new era. Therefore, in their pivotal role, the Party committees and commanders of provincial and city-level armed forces need to fully grasp and firmly uphold the Party’s viewpoints, policies, and State laws concerning the building of the “people’s hearts and minds posture” in the new situation. From this foundation, they should study, advise, and propose solutions to the Party committees and local authorities for practical, appropriate, and effective leadership, direction, and implementation of this task. Accordingly, these proposals and advice need to be comprehensive across all aspects of the local area, aimed at the building of the “people’s hearts and minds posture”.  First and foremost, proactive advice should be given to the local Party committees and authorities on various measures to boost socio-economic development, coupled with effective implementation of welfare policies, poverty reduction efforts, and gradual enhancement of material and spiritual lives of the people in each region and area, especially in remote, border, island, former revolutionary base, and particularly challenging areas, etc. At the same time, provincial and city-level armed forces should also further advise and propose solutions for the development of local economic and social infrastructure, effectively implement grassroots democracy regulations, and enhance education and propaganda efforts to ensure that the people grasp the Party’s and State’s views, directions, and policies on building an all-people national defence and the combination of socio-economic development and the strengthening of the defence and security in each region. Accordingly, particular attention should be given to the innovation and quality improvement of national defence and security education for various groups, aiming to bring about a profound transformation in the understanding and responsibilities of the entire political system and population towards the tasks of building and safeguarding the Motherland in the new situation, especially mobilising resources for building a sustainable national defence potential, forces, and posture capable of promptly and successfully addressing various defence scenarios according to the principle of “four onsite”. Alongside this, the armed forces at the provincial and city levels need to proactively grasp, assess, and accurately forecast the situation, providing timely advice to local Party committees and authorities regarding strategies, solutions, and organisation of efforts to thwart every conspiracy, tactic, and subversive activities of hostile forces; pushing back against crimes and social evils while maintaining political stability, order, and social safety in each region and the entire country.

Second, engage in building a robust grassroots political system to strengthen the unity of the entire population and reinforce people’s trust in Party committees and authorities at all levels. This is a fundamental and essential matter, playing a pivotal role in constructing and vigorously promoting the “people’s hearts and minds posture” within the cause of building and safeguarding the Motherland today. Therefore, the provincial and city-level armed forces need to uphold their responsibility and actively participate in building a strong grassroots political system, consolidating people’s trust in Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially in strategic and key areas. In the short term, it’s essential to proactively study and provide counseling for the effective interpretation and implementation of resolutions, directives, and conclusions of the Party concerning the building and rectification of the Party and political system; strengthen the studying and application of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and manner; strictly adhere to the regulations regarding the code of conduct and the responsibilities of setting example for officials and Party members. Simultaneously, provide advice and propose measures to enhance, complete, and strengthen the leadership capacity, and fighting spirit of Party committees and organisations at all levels, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other political and social organisations. This includes focusing on enhancing the knowledge, intellect, political awareness, and combativeness of grassroots Party organisations and their cadres and members, especially those in key leadership and management positions within the grassroots political system to make them work efficiently and have respect and a close connection with the people. In addition, it is necessary to continue to effectively implement the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people enjoy the results”; and establish mechanisms and policies that promote the role of the people in the development and implementation of the Party’s and State’s guidelines, policies, resolutions, directives, and regulations of Party committees and authorities at all levels.

Third, proactively coordinate with organisations and groups to create a combined strength to build the “people’s hearts and minds posture” and solid defence zones. To effectively carry out this objective, provincial and city-level armed forces need to proactively and closely coordinate with various organisations and groups, persistently and comprehensively implement Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated September 22, 2008, and Conclusion No. 64-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019, of the Politburo, enhance the quality of building and operating the provincial and district defence zones closely linked with the defence posture of their respective military regions and the entire country. The plan for this work must be comprehensive, encompassing capabilities, forces, and posture; across political, ideological, economic, cultural, social, defence, security, and foreign aspects. The focus is on building comprehensive and robust local armed forces with well-rounded strength, and high combat capability, serving as the core in executing local military and defence tasks. Also, it is necessary to implement the principles and mechanisms of leadership, command, coordination, and mobilisation of forces to effectively handle various defence and security situations; be well-prepared in all aspects to respond to any contingencies and meet requirements for local defence and to support the main military forces and military forces of other localities. In addition, provincial and city-level armed forces must coordinate with local agencies, organisations, and units to implement civil defence plans, proactively prevent and counteract all conspiracies, tactics, and subversive activities of hostile forces; proactively prevent and control natural disasters, effectively conduct search and rescue operations, protect state assets and the lives of the people in any situation.

Fourth, consistently innovate and improve propaganda efforts and the mobilisation of the people to defeat subversive plots, tactics, and activities of hostile forces. This is a crucial solution to unify awareness and create consensus in Party committees, authorities, organisations, and associations at all levels, to the various classes of the population, thus stabilising public sentiment for the purpose of building and protecting the Motherland. To ensure the effectiveness of the work of propaganda and mass mobilisation, provincial and city-level armed forces need to promote the role of propaganda teams and improve the quality and effectiveness of political and ideological education. Through this, Party officials and members, and the people can increasingly comprehend the fundamental ideas and great, long-lasting values of Marxist-Leninist principles, and the ideology, morality, and manner of Ho Chi Minh. In this process, it is essential to enhance combative characteristics, the rationality and clarify and affirm that the Party’s political guidelines, directions, and Doi Moi Policy, as well as the Constitution and laws of our State, are correct and in line with the practical conditions of the country and the aspirations of the people. A strong emphasis should be placed on nurturing revolutionary ideals, patriotism, national pride, and the scientific belief of each Party cadre, member, and citizen in the chosen path towards socialism by our Party and our People. In addition, widespread propaganda and dissemination efforts should be conducted to promote significant historical achievements of the Doi Moi process, military and defence tasks in the new situation, as well as the viewpoints, directions, and defence policies of our Party and State. Also, it is crucial to tightly integrate political education with propaganda and dissemination of laws to improve the awareness and responsibility of Party members and cadres, and the people in adhering to the Party’s guidelines, policies, and State laws.

At all levels, it is necessary to grasp the rightful aspirations, sentiments, and desires of the people, predict potential risks and the tactics of hostile forces, proactively prevent, detect and handle factors and risks that could lead to contingencies, ensuring political security, social order and safety within each locality. Simultaneously, the role of dedicated teams, media agencies, publishing houses, and communication outlets must be maximised to extensively propagate positive information, and effectively and timely counteract and address false and harmful information on the internet, social networks, etc. This contributes to firmly defending the ideological foundation of the Party, countering distorted and hostile viewpoints, reinforcing and enhancing political and spiritual unity in society, and forming a foundation for building and vigorously promoting the “people’s hearts and minds posture” in the defence of the Motherland in the new era.

Building the “people’s hearts and minds posture” is a long-term process that requires regular implementation with many coordinated solutions, and the responsible engagement of various organisations and groups within the political system, in which the armed forces play a pivotal role. The aforementioned issues are only preliminary findings, thus it is open for discussion with readers.

Senior Colonel LA CONG PHUONG, Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of 1^st Military Region