Thoroughly grasping and implementing two strategic tasks of national construction and defence, over the years, together with promoting socio-economic development, Nam Dinh province has implemented many measures for leading and directing national defence and military work in accordance with its geographical, economic and social conditions, contributing to boosting its economy, strengthening its defence and security, and making its socio-economic sustainable.

With several potentials and advantages, especially for the development of light industry and marine economy, the coastal delta province of Nam Dinh holds an important position in terms of economy, culture, society, national defence and security in the Northern Delta region. The province is known for its long history of textile, processing, mechanical, and traditional industries. It is home to most of the world biosphere reserve of the Red River Delta region, which is very favourable for agricultural eco-tourism development, trade, aquaculture husbandry and fishing, etc., However, the province faces many difficulties and challenges due to increasingly complicated situations of natural disasters, diseases, etc., the living standard of a part of its people has been improved remains at low level. What’s more, it is one of the most religious populated provinces. This is coupled with sabotage of hostile forces and political opportunists in the name of religious and racial issues with an attempt to separate people from the Party and the government, and promote internal “self-evolution”, “self-transformation”.

Fully aware of the situation, the Provincial Military Party Committee and Provincial Military Command have paid their attention to advising the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee to strengthen state management of national defence, build all-people national defence and defence areas strong. Thoroughly grasping the Party's military and defence lines, directly the 8^th Resolution of the Party Central Committee (11^th tenure) on the Strategy for Homeland protection in the new situation; Decree No. 21/2019/ND-CP, dated February 22, 2019 of the Government on defensive areas, the Provincial Military Command actively coordinates with departments, agencies and branches of the province to advise and assist the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to elaborate and promulgate resolutions and directives to lead and direct defence and military tasks relevant to the local characteristics and situation and concretise them into action programs and implementation guide. The Provincial Military Party Committee advised the Provincial Party Committee to issue Action Program No. 28-CTr/TU on building defence areas; Resolution No. 18-NQ/TU on the construction and operation of militia and self-defence forces in the new situation and resolutions and programs on development of Nam Dinh coastal economic zone; build new advanced and typical rural areas; build and develop Nam Dinh city in the period of 2021 - 2025 and beyond. In particular, the Provincial Military Command has advised the province to issue the Project "Province, district and municipal-level defence area exercise; combat drills to defend communes, wards and townships in defence area for the period of 2020 - 2025". In 2022, the province recruited over 2,550 civilians for the Military, reaching 100% of the target; handled 1,907 violations of the Law on Military Service.

Chief of the Provincial Military Command visits a Vietnam Heroic Mother

In order to strengthen and bring into play the strength of the entire people in performing defence and military tasks, the Provincial Armed Forces coordinate with other departments, branches and localities in promoting law propaganda, dissemination and education in the fields of military and defence. Accordingly, together with strictly maintaining the education of defence knowledge for 100% of the targeted subjects, the province focuses on innovating and improving the quality of propaganda and education for all people and branches on the lines and views of the Party, policies and laws of the State on military and defence; knowledge of sea and island sovereignty; history and tradition of the armed forces and localities; the schemes of "peaceful evolution" of hostile forces, ... with many creative forms and measures of propaganda, contributing to raising awareness and responsibility of all levels and branches, forces and people in building the "people's heart and mind posture", consolidating political and spiritual potentials in the defence area and building a strong all-people national defence.

The Provincial Military Command has always promoted its core role in advising and appraising the projects of socio-economic development associated with defence and security strengthening, and building solid and continuous military posture. According to the roadmap, to date, the province has finished making the development plan for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050; adjusted the master plan of Nam Dinh city to 2040 with a vision to 2050; added Ninh Co Economic Zone to the development plan of Vietnam’s marine economic zones; develop the master plan on the defence arrangement,... in line with the overall defence posture of Military Region 3. During the implementation process, the Provincial Military Command has advised and seriously appraised development projects in the dual-use direction; the building of fishing fleets and new rural areas,... for serving production, ensuring food security, increasing the ability to mobilise for defence purpose when needed. In the 2009 - 2019 period, the whole province implemented 54 of 60 investment projects in defence and security, focusing on key projects, important positions; regularly maintained and repaired tunnels, combat works of units in the defence area, etc., gradually formed a continuous, solid and in-depth battle posture.

Building strong local armed forces with high combat readiness is a key task that is paid special attention by the province, focusing on the three breakthroughs, namely: payroll organisation and administrative reform; exercising and combat readiness training; regularity building and disciplining. The Military Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command have been focusing on consolidating the payroll organisation according to the resolutions and plans of all levels on the organisation of the Vietnam People's Army in the period of 2021 - 2030 and beyond associated with building all-strong, "exemplary and typical" unit; renewing methods and working styles of officers and soldiers in the scientific and democratic direction; regularly strengthened the party committees and improved the leadership capacity and combat strength of party organisations; strictly adhered to the principle of democratic centralism; promoted the vanguard and exemplary role of cadres and party members, especially leading ones at all levels; raising the will and determination for all officers and soldiers in their task performance. Strictly maintaining the regime and discipline of combat readiness; regularly review, adjust and perfect the system of combat documents and hold exercises and drills according to the plans for defence, disaster prevention and relief, search and rescue. Ensure good logistics and technical supply; build regular and synchronised barracks; implement the policies for the Military’s rear in full, etc; improve living standards to make troops enthusiastic and try to fulfil all tasks well.

Last but not least, the Provincial Armed Forces regularly coordinate with the Police and Border Guards to develop plans for combating, preventing and controlling riots, disturbances and demonstrations; mobilise materiel and human resources for the protection of sovereignty over seas and islands, disaster prevention and relief, and well implement the movement "The Military joins hands in building new rural areas". Actively grasp the situation in the area and have appropriate countermeasures accordingly; thoroughly practise defence plans to avoid being made passive and surprised, thereby, strengthening solidarity, promoting synergy, fulfilling defence and military tasks well, maintaining local security, contributing to firmly building and defending the Fatherland in all situations.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN BA THINH, Commander of the Provincial Military Command