Promoting the heroic tradition of the revolutionary base in Viet Bac, the armed forces of Military Region 1 always strive to deserve the core role in the mission of safeguarding the Fatherland. In particular, the mission of building a strong national defence system in the area is highly valued and prioritised by the Party Committee and the High Command of the Military Region, focusing on leadership, direction, and implementation with many cohesive and appropriate solutions, laying the groundwork for successfully accomplishing the tasks of national defence, security, and ensuring the solid protection of the strategic Northeastern region of the country.

Located in the northeastern region of the Fatherland, with a border stretch of 564 km adjacent to China, alongside a system of national and international border gates such as Huu Nghi, Dong Dang (Lang Son), Tra Linh, Phuc Hoa, Duc Long (Cao Bang),... Military Region 1 holds a strategically important position in terms of economy, culture, society, national defence, security, and external affairs. This region is rich in potential, historical and cultural significance, with many landmarks deeply rooted in historical traditions, such as Kinh Bac (Bac Ninh), Chi Lang (Lang Son), Xuong Giang (Bac Giang), the security zone of Dinh Hoa (Thai Nguyen), revolutionary bases in Bac Kan, Cao Bang; the people of various ethnic groups here possess a strong patriotism, unity spirit, and revolutionary tradition, etc.

Thoroughly understanding the military and national defence strategies of the Party, especially Central Resolution 8 (11th,13th tenure) on Fatherland Protection Strategy in the new context, along with resolutions and directives from the Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defence, Party Committee and High Command of the Military Region, local authorities of the 6 provinces in the area concentrate on leadership and direction to effectively carry out military tasks, national defence, and Fatherland protection. In particular, intensifying the construction of the national defence system is identified as one of the top priorities, rigorously implemented both in all dimensions, achieving significant results on multiple fronts.

Leaders of the General Staff and Military Region 1 encourage youths of Bac Giang province on their enlistment

Alongside the achievements attained, the awareness and responsibilities of a portion of cadres, party members and citizens regarding the task of building and safeguarding the Fatherland are not yet fully comprehensive; the economic growth has not yet matched the potential and advantages; the ability to mobilise national defence and security resources in the area still faces many difficulties; the integration between socio-economic development and strengthening national defence and security is not yet tightly knit, etc. Meanwhile, the Military Region remains a focal point where hostile forces concentrate on sabotage through the “peaceful evolution” strategy, promoting “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” with sophisticated and cunning conspiracies and schemes. Alongside the nation's development, there are also emerging issues in political security, order, social safety, rural security and so on, harbouring potential instability factors; the lives of some ethnic minority populations in remote and border areas still face numerous challenges; natural disasters, unusual disease outbreaks directly impact all aspects of social life, etc.

Facing this situation, the Party Committee and the High Command of the Military Region have identified and continue to comprehensively deploy and synchronise missions and solutions in building the national defence system, the all-people national defence posture integrating with the people's security posture, creating a solid foundation for successfully fulfilling the mission of defending the Fatherland; focusing on effectively leading and directing the implementation of the following key contents.

Firstly, thoroughly understanding and effectively implementing the resolutions and directives of the Party and the government on building the national defence system. This is a crucial solution that decisively determines the direction, quality, and effectiveness of constructing the national defence system in each locality and across the entire area. Therefore, the Party Committee and the High Command of the Military Region enhance coordination with local party committees, authorities, directing agencies and units to thoroughly understand and effectively implement the party's guidelines, government laws and policies; the system of guiding documents for implementation by the Ministry of National Defence and relevant ministries, departments, and agencies regarding local defence work. Enhancing directions at all levels, sectors, and localities to proactively innovate the contents, forms, and methods of national defence and security education, fostering a qualitative shift in the awareness and responsibilities of the entire population, especially key cadres within the political system, regarding the task of defending the Fatherland. It is crucial to focus on improving the organisation and effectiveness of the activities of the national defence and security education councils at all levels (military region, province, district, commune); proactively advising party committees, authorities and counterparts, to effectively directing and organising the implementation of national defence and security education, especially with the cadres, ensuring adherence to prescribed programmes, contents, and timeframes; strengthening the organisation of training and development programmes for the cadres and teachers involved in teaching national defence and security knowledge. Alongside the innovation and enhancement of the quality of national defence and security education for specified targets, the Military Region strengthens propaganda and dissemination works, combine with teaching national defence and security education for the entire population through diverse, practical forms to raise national defence awareness and contribute to enhancing the “people's hearts and minds” posture, serving as the foundation for building a robust national defence system.

Secondly, closely integrating economic and social development with the reinforcement of national defence and security. The Military Region and localities continue to thoroughly implement Decree No. 164/2018/ND-CP dated 21 December 2018 of the Government regarding the integration of national defence with socio-economic development and vice versa; particularly emphasising the Civil Defence Law and guidance from central ministries and sectors. On that basis, creating a high level of unity in leadership, direction, and coordinated implementation through flexible and diverse solutions tailored to the realities of each locality; ensuring both economic development and social welfare; striving to achieve socio-economic targets as planned. The implementation process requires proactive integration and effective execution of policies to attract investment, business licensing, and job creation, reducing the poverty rate. The Military Region emphasises that, in the combination of economic-social development with the reinforcement of national defence and security at the local level, efficiency must be ensured across all sectors, especially in the construction of transportation infrastructure, healthcare, postal services, telecommunication, economic development investment, population distribution, social affairs...; correctly implementing the policies of the Party and government on mobilising local resources to ensure national defence and security tasks. Directing economic-defence delegations to actively expand and accelerate the progress of socio-economic development projects combined with enhancing national defence and security in essential areas, contributing to the development of the economy, culture, society, poverty reduction for people in border areas, laying the foundation for building national defence capabilities and the national defence posture in the region.

Commander of Military Region 1 congratulates forces of Division 3 successfully conducting exercise

Thirdly, focusing on building a strong and comprehensive Military Region armed forces, worthy of being the core armed force in carrying out the task of defending the Fatherland. Concentrate on building regular forces in the direction of "elite, compact, and strong", strictly comply with regulations on organisation and establishment; prioritise troop allocation for units with combat readiness mission; well perform in the task of recruiting, linking recruitment with creating reserves forces encouraged by localities, especially in border districts and communes. Enhance the quality of training according to the principles of "fundamental, practical, and robust"; prioritise comprehensive and in-depth training, closely aligned with the requirements of missions, scenarios, combat reality, and the organisational structure and operational areas of each unit. Additionally, intensify the establishment of "strong and widespread" self-defence militia forces, with a reasonable number and organisational scale suitable for each type of local community; intensify education, training, and enhance the overall quality, primarily in political awareness and combat readiness; prioritise the establishment of air defence militia, mobile militia, and regular militia in border communes and key areas related to national defence and security; organise self-defence units in businesses and contributing to maintain the political security, order, and social safety at the grassroots level. For the military reserve forces, the Military Region rigorously implements the process and steps from source creation, registration, confirmation, management and practice of inspection and training; emphasises greatly on enhancing training quality and combat readiness capability to be ready for mobilisation when needed. Furthermore, the Military Region maintains strict combat readiness at all levels; enhances monitoring measures to grasp the situation, schemes, and sabotage tactics of hostile forces. Regularly reviewing, supplementing, and perfecting the system of combat readiness documents, disaster prevention plans, search and rescue operations; strengthening training organisation, conducting exercises according to plans, and being ready to handle any possible situations successfully. Military agencies at all levels proactively provide counsel to the party committees, local authorities, and closely coordinate with the police and border guard according to Government Decree No. 03/2019/NĐ-CP dated 05 September 2019, ensuring timely and effective handling of situations to prevent passive and unexpected situations, thereby firmly protecting national sovereignty and maintaining political security, order, and social safety in the area.

Fourthly, focusing on building a strong military region defence posture, provincial and city defence areas. All levels, sectors, and localities strictly implement the action programme of the  Military Region Party Committee in implementing Resolution No. 28 of the Political Bureau  (10th tenure) on building defence areas in the new situation; step by step completing the leadership, direction, management mechanisms and the operation mechanism of the defence area construction and activities; promoting and enhancing the effectiveness of integrating economic and social development with strengthening national defence and security in the defence area; adjusting the planning and layout of defence positions in the defence area, aligning with national defence planning and deployment. Additionally, regular reviews and investment plans are made for constructing defence facilities, combat bases, rear bases and technical-logistics bases; enhancing the organisation of defence area exercises in provinces and districts, integrated with local development activities; and effectively managing land planning, defence structures and military zones, etc.

Fifthly, enhancing the quality of government management in national defence. Military agencies at the local level throughout the entire Military Region focus on studying and thoroughly understanding the legal framework regarding national defence; proactively provide counsel to the People's Committees at the same level in government management regarding national defence; build national defence potential and capabilities, political systems and a strong national unity bloc; consolidate the "people's hearts and minds" posture, meeting the requirements for building a comprehensive national defence, people's security and integrating national defence posture with people's security posture on the local level. Alongside prioritising the development of local armed forces; carrying out the national defence and security education for relevant individuals, localities need to effectively conduct recruitment and enlistment; create employment opportunities for demobilised soldiers; coordinate with relevant agencies, organisations, and units of the armed forces in constructing provincial and municipal defence, as well as regional defence according to legal regulations. Continuing to provide budgetary support for national defence activities; implementing the construction, training and operations, as well as ensuring the regime and policies for local military forces, reserve forces and self-defence forces; safeguarding defence structures, military zones, and economic-defence zones in the area; implementing civil defence measures, military rear policies, and preferential policies for revolutionary contributors, contributing to the development of a strong military region.

Lieutenant-General NGUYEN HONG THAI, Member of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Vietnam, Commander of the Military Region