Attaching socio-economic development to strengthening defence and security potentials is our Party and State’s strategic policy. As a borderland, An Giang holds a significant standing in the general defence position of Military Region 9 and the southern region. That combination is consequently even more essential and being focused on implementing by the provincial leaders, with many synchronous and reasonable solutions.

Located in the Southwest region, An Giang is the borderland with a nearly 100 kilometre-length border adjacent to Cambodia along with many waterways and land roads which is convenient for trade and economic development. The province also has the majestic That Son range with a load of caves and high points of military value. On the basis of thoroughly grasping and seriously implementing the Party's viewpoint on the implementation of two strategic tasks, building and safeguarding the Fatherland, the provincial Party Committee, the government, the armed forces and the people always uphold the spirit of solidarity and unity, manage to overcome difficulties and strive to promote socio-economic growth in association with strengthening national defence and security with positive results.

An Giang Provincial Military Command presents gift to TAKEO sub-region of Cambodia

Following the above resolutions, directives and instructions on military and national defence work, the regional Party Committee and Military Command have recently closely coordinated with responsible agencies to consult and assist the Provincial Party Committee to form Action Plan No. 30-CTr/TU, dated July 24, 2014 on approval of the Provincial Party Committee on the implementation of the 8th Central Committee’s Resolution (11^th tenure) on the Strategy for Fatherland protection in the new situation, and the Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU on building a people-based defence, people's security, foreign affairs and socio-economic development in combination with national defence and security in the 2016-2020 period. On that basis, the administration implements many policies and solutions to exploit potentials and strengths for socio-economic enlargement and, at the same time, promulgates appropriate mechanisms, mobilises resources of all economic sectors to build infrastructure, industrial zones, and craft villages. It is also the authority to encourage investment in the development of industry, agriculture, and handicrafts, accelerate the transformation of the labour structure, create jobs, increase incomes, reduce poverty, and maintain political stability from the grassroots.

The province accelerates the implementation of strategic breakthroughs in socio-economic infrastructure construction and urban development, focusing on traffic, information, telecommunications and irrigation; advances researches and application of advanced science and technology in production and governance corporation, etc… The strategy creates a motivation for enriching our economy, enhancing national defence and security potentials. In recent years, despite facing many drawbacks, especially the impact and influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, with drastic and synchronous solutions, the province's GRDP growth rate still averaged over 5% per year; with suitable economic structure to the characteristics and real conditions of the region. Up to now, the urbanisation rate in the area has reached 41%; the rate of national-standardised school was 48.64%; the proportion of multidimensional poor households decreased on average 1.0% - 1.2% per year; and 9.5 doctors and 26.93 hospital beds per ten thousand people. Industrial parks like Binh Hoa, Binh Long, Xuan To and border-gate economic zones, Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, and Long Binh have almost been built with high dual-use properties. While creating jobs for a large number of labourers in the area, the work also created resources for economic development, and is ready to switch to production for defence and security when necessary.

The association of socio-economic development with national defence and security enhancement in some branches and fields, however, is still insufficient. Although the infrastructure has been splurged on, it is still not comprehensive and inconsistent. Moreover, the awareness of some agencies, units and localities about this crucial task is not yet fulfilled and profound. Additionally, some grassroots localities’ ability to shift the economy to national defence and security tasks in unexpected contexts is not flexible.

Despite some progresses in the province's socio-economic development, the current life of a part of the people is still knotty, especially in ethnic minority and border areas, as hostile and reactionary forces take unfair advantage of the issues of "ethnicity" and "religion", in order to exaggerate subversive activities, etc. To meet the requirements of national construction and defence mission in the new situation, An Giang advocates to keep on promoting the leadership role of the local party committees, the function of the government’s management and administration at all levels, the power of the whole political system and the great national unity bloc, with the aim of fully exploiting the potentials and strengths, mobilising all resources for socio-economic expansion combined with consolidating national defence and security, creating a driving force for rapid and sustainable development.

First of all, continue to raise the understanding and awareness for all levels, branches, localities, the armed forces and the people about the necessity to combine socio-economic advance with the local defence and security. Thoroughly grasp and implement the concepts according to the spirit of the 11th Provincial Party Congress’s Resolution, 2020 – 2025 term, the Provincial Party Committee and Military Command along with responsible agencies, consult and facilitate the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to strengthen leadership and direct the synchronous, close implementation of education and propaganda work at all levels, with suitable content, form, and methods of education. In particular, focus on education and training to make all-level cadres more aware of the part and parcel bond between socio-economic growth and national defence and security strengthening; between protection and self-protection, with self-protection is paramount, especially for foreign-invested enterprises. In order to achieve the set goals and requirements, along with focusing on consolidating the operational efficiency of the National Defence and Security Education Council at all levels, the province has actively researched, compiled and supplemented the materials as well as renewing educational contents and programs, fostering national defence and security knowledge for grassroots subjects, ensuring closeness to the actual situation. Paying attention to expanding the subjects participating in education and training, especially for religious dignitaries and positions, business owners; focusing on integrating education and defence and security training courses, rehearsals in defensive areas of all levels through ceremonies associations and mass media, etc. Thereby, contributing to make all levels, branches, localities, armed forces and the whole people understand clearly the views of the Party, State and Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee on the relationship between economy – society and national defence and security; build up determination and responsibility in implementation.

Secondly, along with awareness-raising solutions, the province concentrates on directing to closely combine socio-economic growth plans and projects with strengthening the defence and security posture right from the general disposition to each sector and field’s implementation. Thoroughly grasp and implement the Decree No. 164/2018/ND-CP, dated December 21, 2018 of the Government on associating socio-economic advance with national defence and security, and vice versa; the Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW, dated April 2, 2022 of the Politburo on “Orient of socio-economic advancement, ensuring national defence and security in the Mekong Delta until 2030, with a vision to 2045", the province focuses on supplying concrete guidance in strongly exploiting comparative advantages in regional linkage and international integration for economic development. In order to create a breakthrough in development, the province advocates taking agriculture as the foundation, while services, tourism and industry serve as the driving force; focuses on transforming the growth model towards a rational shift from agriculture to industry, trade and services; also increases the quality and value of the agricultural, service and tourism sectors; improves the production, business and competitiveness of economic entities.

To ensure that each step of economic development is a step to empower national defence and security potentials, on the basis of the overall socio-economic planning, the province continues to direct branches and localities to review and evaluate to carefully determine and supervise the zoning and planning of economic zones, industrial parks and new urban areas in association with national defence and security planning for timely adjustment and supplementation. In particular, focusing on development of industry, handicrafts, trade - services, tourism and agriculture; linking planning with economic restructuring, building infrastructure according to a unified plan. The region guides to study and fulfil mechanisms and policies to mobilise economic resources for national defence and security; encourages and creates favourable conditions for organisations and enterprises to invest in socio-economic development in association with national defence and security assurance in accordance with the provisions of law, with guidelines and policies, development plan and provincial master plan. Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership and state management at all levels, through plans, targets and measures to organise the implementation. Strictly maintain the leadership mechanism for the construction and operation of the defence zone; regularly consolidate and improve the operational efficiency of organisations, especially the Steering Committee for the construction of the defence area; promote the fundamental role of military and police agencies in consulting, directing, organising, implementing, managing and appraising investment programs and plans for socio-economic development related to the defensive area’s military posture.

Additionally, the Province cares about ensuring social security, well implements policies with people of meritorious services; steps up the construction of new rural areas in the context of defence zones. Actively implement national programs and targets on education, training, health care, labour, sustainable poverty reduction in remote, border and extremely difficult communes. Strengthening, consolidating and expanding the relationship of solidarity and friendship with the government and armed forces of Cambodia in various fields, especially traditional friendship exchanges, border management, search and rescue, promote the development of the connected transport infrastructure system, etc, to meet the requirements and tasks of national construction and defence.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN VAN LEO, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command