Recently, the 7th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (XI tenure) has passed Resolution 25-NQ/TW on “Strengthening and renewing the Party’s leadership over public affairs under new conditions”. This sets a very important foundation for the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) good execution of its public affairs work, making contribution to build firm “people’s hearts and minds-based posture” in the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland.

Troops actively join hand with localities in building infrastructure (illustrative photo)

 Keenly aware of the importance of public affairs (PA), in recent years, party executive committees and commanders at all levels in the military has paid attention to leading, directing, and carrying out effectively this work. Units throughout the military have participated in and coordinated with local authorities, party committees, unions to push up propagation, mobilize people to help them in hunger eradication and poverty reduction, socio-economic and cultural development, control, prevention and overcome natural disasters, making contribution to building robust local political foundations, consolidating political stability, defence and security in the stationing regions. Throughout the process, contents, modes have always been renewed, amended and supplemented on a par with new circumstances and missions. Types of twinning has been widened at many levels, branches and in large areas, such as: twining between the military units and bodies of the Party, State, local people and authorities; between local armed forces in plain areas and those in mountainous ones; between units doing economic cooperative projects and local authorities and residents of neigboring countries; between groups of residents along the land borders. 

There have also been many changes in the content of PA towards practicality, effectiveness, in accordance with functions, missions of the VPA, especially in the tasks of building grassroots political systems, developing socio-economy and culture, strengthening defence and security in the major strategic regions.

At present, the Resolution 25-NQ/TW is being grasped and implemented throughout the military with both favourable and unfavourable conditions, thus requiring renewals in awareness, thought, contents and modes of PA. To meet this requirement, units need to uphold achievements gained through 10 years implementing Resolution 152-NQ/ĐUQSTW of Central Military Party  Committee (now as Central Military Commission); study, concretize Resolution 25-NQ/TW, Action Plan of Central Military Commission in implementing this Resolution, the Ministry of National Defence’s Action Plan on Government’s Strategy for Ethnic Work; and focus on the followings:

First, to focus on building strong party organizations in the military, consolidate people’s trust in the Party’s leadership, enhance the solidarity between  people and troops.

Second, to push up propaganda, education to raise awareness of officers and soldiers of the position, role and requirements of PA under new conditions.

Third, to renew contents, diversify modes of PA in accordance with each particular region and unit.

Fourth, to strengthen the leadership of party executive committees, uphold the responsibility of commissars, political cadres and commanders of PA.

Fifth, to focus on building, enhancement of the quality and effectiveness of agencies and cadres in charge of PA.

Sr. Col Duong Dinh Thong

Director of the Department of Public Affairs - General Political Department