On December 31, 2013, the Central Military Commission promulgated Resolution 806-NQ/QUTW on international integration and defence diplomacy up to 2020 and beyond. This is the fundamental orientation, creating foundation for boosting international integration and defence diplomacy  to a new height, meeting the targets and demands of building and safeguarding the Fatherland  in the new situation.

Vietnamese defence delegation at the second ADMM+  in Brunei (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Things need to be clarified is the Party’s thinking on the close and organic link between aims, policies of international integration and defence diplomacy  and the realization of the goals of the Strategy to build and safeguard the  Fatherland  that has been noted in the Resolution: international integration and defence  diplomacy  must aim at “firmly defending independence, sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the Fatherland; safeguarding the Party, State, people and Socialism regime; protecting the cause renovation, industrialization, modernization; protecting national interests; protecting political security, social law and order and the culture; maintaining political stability and peaceful environment”; meanwhile, “creating favourable conditions for other sectors’ international integration to construct and develop the country toward socialism orientation”. International integration and defence diplomacy  need to grasp chances, overcome challenges, have positive and proactive implementation of simultaneous and comprehensive solutions in order to realize Resolution 806-NQ/QUTW of the CMC, with the following focuses:

First, to promote and enhance the quality of studying, forecasting the situation and providing strategic staff support; thereby, to be positive in developing and accomplishing strategy on international integration in defence in the new situation.

Second, to go on broadening bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation with focus and priority for partners of strategic importance. First and foremost, it is necessary to enhance and renew defence relations with neighbouring countries, countries of traditional friendship, and  ASEAN member countries to enhance the cooperative efficiency in defence cooperation mechanisms of which   ASEAN plays a core role. In the mean time, to attach importance to  major powers, strategic partners to strengthen trust, mutual understanding to boost cooperation; proactively join international activities with full responsibility, serving for national defence strengthening and Fatherland protection.

Third, to strengthen coordination among agencies and units responsible for international integration and defence diplomacy  and with concerned ministries, branches and localities.

Fourth, to consolidate systems of agencies and units responsible for international integtation and defence diplomacy; at the same time, enhance quality for those directly involve in the work. In particular, specialized agencies and units in defence diplomacy need to be consolidated in staff, functions, and missions to create new momentum for mission accomplishment.

Fifth, to combine investment increase in materials with efficiency in using resources allocated for the work. Besides using state budget, agencies and units need to exploit both domestic and overseas resources for an increasingly high effectiveness in their work. 

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh

Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defence