In recent years, along with the whole country, the Party Committee, authorities, armed forces and people of all ethnic groups in Lang Son province have always upheld the spirit of solidarity, promoted potentials and advantages to boost socio-economic development associated with strengthening national defence and security, creating numerous positive changes. However, stemming from the characteristics of a mountainous and border province; being the gateway to the Northeast of the country, with multiple vibrant trade and foreign economic activities, ... this place still possesses potentials of instability, especially issues of rural security, cross-border crimes, social evils, illegal proselytising activities, etc. Faced with this reality, the Province has synchronously implemented solutions to effectively carry out national defence and security work; in which, the focus is on strengthening national defence and security education to build up a solid "people's heart and mind posture".

First of all, the Province strengthens the leadership, direction and management of Party committees and authorities and promotes the responsibility of heads of agencies and organisations at all levels in the implementation of national defence and security education tasks. Thoroughly grasping the directives, resolutions and instructions from higher authorities on national defence and security education, the Military Command - the Standing Agency of the Provincial National Defence and Security Education Council presides over and coordinates with departments, agencies and branches to review and advise the Province to develop and promulgate a system of leadership documents, directions and implementation instructions, creating a legal basis for synchronous implementation from the provincial to communal levels. At the same time, coordinate to promote propaganda and education, especially for leaders at all levels and specific subjects on the meaning, importance, goals, requirements and content of national defence and security education, creating consensus in awareness and action in implementing this important work. To achieve high efficiency, the Province focuses on mobilising the participation of the entire political system; strengthening inspection and supervision, resolutely overcoming the manifestation of "blank assignment" to the Military and Police agencies and taking the results of implementing national defence and security education work as a criterion in assessing the leadership and management capacity of cadres at all levels, and considering emulation and rewards of departments, branches and localities.

A meeting with village chiefs and dignitaries in the province in 2023

Along with that, the Province attaches importance to improving and enhancing the operational capacity of the National Defence and Security Education Councils at all levels, considering this an important and regular solution, ensuring that this work is implemented closely, consistently, qualitatively and effectively. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the Law on National Defence and Security Education, directly Decision No. 517/QD-TTg, dated 1 April 2021 of the Prime Minister on "Establishing the Central National Defence and Security Education Council, the Military Region National Defence and Security Education Council; functions, tasks and powers of the Councils at all levels", in recent years, the Provincial National Defence and Security Education Councils at all levels have been regularly reviewed and improved to ensure sufficient quantity and appropriate composition; building regulations, maintaining operating procedures in accordance with regulations. However, in some places, especially at the commune level, due to different reasons, the Council's operations are not effective, and in some cases, they do not meet the requirements of the task. Faced with that situation, the Provincial Military Command proactively advised the Province on different measures to lead, direct, inspect and supervise the activities of the Councils at all levels; analysed and pointed out the causes of limitations and assigned responsibilities to each member, thereby drawing lessons, as a basis for supplementing the operating regulations to suit each locality and organisation. Promoting the experience and achievements as well as the roadmap for arranging the administrative units of the Province according to Resolution No. 1246/NQ-UBTVQH15, dated 24 October 2024 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on "Arrangement of commune-level administrative units of Lang Son province in the period of 2023 - 2025", in the coming time, the Provincial Military Command will proactively coordinate with departments, agencies and branches to advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on plans to consolidate and perfect the Councils at all levels. Assigning specific tasks, fields, and areas of responsibility to each member of the council at all levels, especially for communes in remote, isolated, and border areas, as a basis for coordination, direction, consultation, proposal, and effective implementation of the state management function on national defence and security education in the new situation.

Lang Son is a mountainous and border province of key national defence and security with 97 communes, wards, and towns; low population density, high proportion of ethnic minorities; complex terrain, poor traffic infrastructure conditions, etc. Therefore, to achieve the goal of 100% of subjects completing the national defence and security knowledge training programme during the term, the Province has promoted innovation in the organisation and methods of national defence and security education for subjects. In line with the functions, tasks and characteristics of the area, the Provincial Military Command regularly reviews and grasps the number and classification of subjects, as a basis for advising the Province to develop plans and promptly allocate targets to localities, agencies and organisations for implementation. At the same time, actively research and innovate the organisational form and training methods suitable for each subject and area. Overcoming difficulties in geographical and traffic conditions, in recent times, the Provincial Military Command has actively and proactively researched and developed plans to organise training courses for subjects 3 and 4, expanded subjects according to clusters of communes, wards and towns, ensuring "close and compact areas", creating favourable conditions for subjects to participate in learning. At the same time, combine training in meetings, conduct civil - political - party work, training conferences; defence area drills, civil defence drills, etc. With that approach, from 2020 to present, the province has 15,414 cadres and 1,413 typical individuals, prestigious people in the community, village elders, village chiefs, and religious officials who have been trained in national defence and security knowledge. Through training, awareness, qualifications, leadership, direction, and management capacity of Party committees, authorities, and advisory capacity of departments, agencies, branches, and organisations on national defence, security, and foreign affairs have been improved, contributing to maintaining political security, order, and social safety in the locality.

Checking defence and security education of Tan Thanh High School Huu Lung District

In order to improve the quality of national defence and security education for students, contributing to building a young generation of "comprehensive development, full of patriotism", the Province focuses on leadership and direction to promote the implementation of the motto: "building a team of teachers is key, ensuring facilities is the focus, innovating teaching methods is important and regular". Thanks to the appropriate attention and close coordination between the Provincial Military Command and the Department of Education and Training, up to now, the team of teachers teaching national defence and security education subjects in schools has made comprehensive achievements with over 80% receiving basic training; the system of facilities is regularly consolidated and supplemented, basically meeting the requirements for teaching the subject, etc. Faced with the increasing negative impacts of social evils, the negative aspects of the market economy, social networks, etc., the work of national defence and security education for students must be innovated in both content and form. With that awareness, in recent times, the Provincial Military Command has proactively coordinated closely with the Department of Education and Training, the Border Guard, and the Provincial Police to research and add new content to the national defence and security education programme for this group, ensuring compliance with regulations. In particular, focusing on organising practical experience activities at armed forces units, historical sites and border areas, etc. In the past 4 years, the Province has held 21 military semester classes, police semester classes and hundreds of extracurricular programmes "Border lessons", visiting border markers for students, etc. Thereby, helping teachers, students and pupils understand the tasks of the armed forces, supplement knowledge about national defence, security, borders, landmarks, territorial sovereignty, national and ethnic interests, contributing to raising awareness, responsibility, motivation to study, and fostering love for the homeland and country for the young generation.

To propagate and disseminate knowledge about national defence and security to all people, the Province focuses on promoting the role of all forces, organisations and individuals to carry out this work in the direction of "closeness, synchronisation, and comprehensive coverage". Accordingly, along with strengthening training and improving the operational capacity of reporters at all levels, the Provincial Military Command closely coordinates with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Department of Information and Communications to direct the press agencies of the Province and districts and towns to effectively maintain specialised pages and columns: "National Defence for All People", "For the Security of Lang Son", "For the National Border Security and Sovereignty"; Actively post and broadcast news and articles on mass media, as well as on social networks, etc. At the same time, well implement the coordination regulations between the Military, Police, and Border Guard forces in grasping the situation, developing plans, selecting content, and innovating propaganda forms suitable to the characteristics of each locality, especially in border communes and remote areas. Advise the Province to direct localities and armed forces units to well conduct the activities of the National Defence Day, the National Border Guard, and the movement "All people protect national security". Strengthen propaganda in direct form, distribute documents and leaflets through celebrations, traditional days, military service days, and Defence zone drills. Combine and integrate propaganda in community activities, activities of the Fatherland Front and mass organisations; promote the role of the Women's Union, Youth Union, Veterans' Association, village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in the community to propagate and mobilise ethnic minorities. Thereby, raising awareness and sense of responsibility of each citizen for the task of building and safeguarding the Fatherland; actively participating in maintaining political security, order, social safety, protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing Lang Son border.

Recognising the position and significance of national defence and security education, Lang Son province continues to promote innovation, improve the quality and effectiveness of this important work, build up an increasingly solid "people's heart and mind position", contribute to the realisation of people's peace and security, build up a great national unity bloc, create a foundation for rapid and sustainable development, become a province of developed economy and stable society with guaranteed national defence, security and ecological environment, one of the growth poles, the economic centre of the Northern Midlands and Mountains, and step firmly into the new era with the whole country - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise.

Senior Colonel TRAN XUAN MANH, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command