Thoroughly grasping and implementing the Party's strategic policy on building defence zones, the Party Committee, government, armed forces and people of Quang Tri province continue to strive to overcome difficulties and challenges, comprehensively deploying contents and solutions in performing this important task, contributing to the rapid and sustainable development of the province, together with the entire country entering the new era.

Thoroughly grasping and seriously implementing the Party's resolutions and directives on socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions; especially Decision No. 1737/QD-TTg dated 29 December 2023 of the Government on "Approving the planning of Quang Tri province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050", the Party Committee, government and armed forces of the province have deployed many solutions in implementation, ensuring unity, synchronisation, seriousness and efficiency. The province strives that by 2030, it becomes one of the better-off provinces of the country, one of the comprehensive economic centres of the North Central and Central Coast regions, a logistics and goods transit hub of the Southeast Asian region; its national defence and security are guaranteed, and its people shall enjoy a happy life. In order to achieve the set goals, in addition to the basic advantages, the province also faces many difficulties and challenges due to natural disasters, epidemics; religious security, border security, rural security, etc., which cause many potential factors of instability. Facing the situation, along with drastic implementation of measures to build the Party and build a "refined, compact, effective, efficient, and effective" political system, the province continues to promote the construction of an increasingly solid defence zone, creating a favourable environment for rapid and sustainable development.

Leader of Military Region 4 speaks at the leadership conference on military and defence task of 2025

First of all, strengthening the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels in organising, building and operating the defence zone. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the Party's directives, resolutions and conclusions, and the State's legal documents on building defence zones, the Provincial Military Command - the Standing Agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for Defence Zone Construction continues to closely coordinate with departments, agencies and branches to research and advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to review, supplement and perfect resolutions, directives and leadership and direction plans on building defence zones in accordance with the Quang Tri Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 and the defence planning of Military Region 4. Branches and localities specify plans, plans and action programmes in accordance with reality, focusing on promoting innovation, improving the quality of processes and management and operation methods of authorities at all levels, from planning to implementation; clearly defining the functions, scope and tasks of state management of economy, national defence and security at all levels and sectors, as a basis for inspection and supervision of implementation. In addition, the Provincial Military Command directs and guides military agencies at all levels to advise local Party committees and authorities at the same level to consolidate and perfect defence zone organisations, especially the Steering Committee for Defence Zone Construction, Defence Zone Supply Council, People's Air Defence Steering Committee, etc. to ensure the correct structure and composition. Actively review, supplement and perfect the mechanisms and regulations on construction and operation of defence zones at all levels and maintain order, improve the quality of operations, creating a strong shift in leadership, direction and operation of this important task from the province to the grassroots.

Second, focusing on building and consolidating political and spiritual potential, creating a foundation for building a solid defence zone. On the basis of firmly grasping the situation, the Provincial armed forces proactively coordinate with departments, agencies and branches to strengthen propaganda and education activities, raise awareness and responsibility for cadres, soldiers and people in the area about the task of protecting the Fatherland; arouse and promote the patriotism, cultural values, and the indomitable and resilient tradition of the armed forces and people of Quang Tri. Coordinate with border forces to patrol and promptly prevent illegal proselytising activities, destroy drug trafficking and transnational smuggling rings, contributing to maintaining political security and stability in the area. Continue to promote the role of the "working army", actively participate in building a strong grassroots political system; Promote the Project "Improving the quality and effectiveness of mass mobilisation work in special areas in Military Region 4 for the period 2023 - 2030 and beyond"; combine new rural construction, help and support people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, etc. Agencies and units in the border area help Laos build developed clusters of villages, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly and stable border in the long term. Along with that, the Provincial Military Command presides over, coordinates and advises the Province to effectively lead, direct and carry out national defence and security education; actively hold training courses for expanded subjects (business owners, ship owners, dignitaries, religious officials, prestigious people among ethnic minorities), creating an "extended arm" to bring the Party and State's policies and guidelines to the people, especially in border, coastal and island communes. Thereby, creating high consensus in society, strengthening people's trust in the Party and State, contributing to building an increasingly solid "people's hearts and minds posture".

Disaster relief exercise conducted in 2024 by Cam Lo district

Third, promoting socio-economic development and consolidate and strengthen national defence and security in the direction of "comprehensive stability, strong focus". Currently, the Province has completed the demarcation of military zones and established a master plan for national defence arrangement combined with socio-economic development and integrated it into the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. This is the basis for localities to deploy the combination of socio-economic development with increasingly close and effective national defence consolidation. Based on the achieved results, in the coming time, the Province will focus resources on implementing programmes and projects according to the defined roadmap. To ensure that each step of economic development is a step to strengthen national defence and security, the Provincial Military Command actively coordinates and advises the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee on population planning, new rural construction, construction of economic zones, industrial clusters, transport infrastructure systems, healthcare, electricity and information technology to ensure synchronisation with the construction of military posture in the defence area. In particular, emphasis is placed on key economic projects combined with national defence, such as: Southeast economic zone, Lao Bao special economic - commercial zone, La Lay international border gate; Quang Tri airport, My Thuy deep-water port and Cua Tung boat anchorage area. Prioritise resources for projects and programmes for socio-economic development in border and island areas, support fishermen to upgrade their means, invest in offshore fishing boats, develop the marine economy associated with protecting sea and island sovereignty. Promote wind power and renewable energy projects, combined with forest protection and development; build concentrated residential areas, create stable jobs for ethnic minorities in border areas. Develop the economic and defence transportation system, especially coastal routes and border patrol routes. In particular, continue to advise the Province to prioritise budget allocation to build military postures in defence areas at the provincial and district levels, especially key defence works, combat base systems, rear bases, key defence areas, border militia combat posts, ... gradually complete the interconnected posture between all levels. In addition, military agencies at all levels actively advise local Party committees and authorities in state management of national defence; closely survey and appraise socio-economic development projects, especially in areas sensitive to national defence and security; guide departments, branches and localities to develop mobilisation plans for national defence, ensuring feasibility, in accordance with the economic capacity of the Province, ready to ensure for all situations.

Fourth, building a strong armed force with comprehensive quality and high combat power, serving as the core in building the defence zone. Promoting the results achieved in structural adjustments, training, exercises, and combat readiness, in the coming time, the Provincial Military Command will continue to advise, propose, and conduct restructuring the organisation and staffing of the standing force in conjunction with adjusting and supplementing the system of functions, tasks, working relationships, etc. to build lean, strong, and effective agencies and units, meeting both immediate and long-term requirements. Promote the building of a "mighty, high-quality" reserve force, a "strong, widespread" militia and self-defence force; in particular, maintain a standing militia fleet to participate in the protection of the sovereignty of the sea and islands effectively and with high combat readiness. At the same time, step up the implementation of the breakthrough "Improving the quality of training and combat readiness, especially for the militia and self-defence forces and reserve forces", creating a strong shift in the level and combat readiness of the entire force. Strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Public Security and Border Guard forces according to Decree No. 03/2019/ND-CP, dated 5 September 2019 of the Government, regularly grasp and forecast the situation, especially in border areas, seas, islands and industrial zones to advise and coordinate to promptly resolve issues arising from the grassroots, maintain political security, order and social safety in the area.

Last but not least, the Province focuses on perfecting the Party Committee, Party organisations, and strong, exemplary armed forces units associated with innovation, improving leadership capacity, especially in performing national defence and security tasks, building and operating defence zones. In the immediate future, it focuses on leading and directing the coordination with agencies assisting the Provincial Party Committee, district Party Committees, city Party Committees, and Party Committees of communes, wards, and towns to prepare personnel for the election of Party Committees at all levels and successfully convene Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, creating a new momentum for development, building an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” armed force, truly be the core force in performing local military and defence tasks, building defence zones, contributing to building Quang Tri increasingly rich and strong, with steady development steps.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN HUU DAN, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command