Hanoi (VNA) – To realise the country's two centenary goals, successfully implement the resolution of the coming 14th National Party Congress, secure a peaceful and stable environment for fast and sustainable socio-economic development, and ensure prosperity and happiness for the people, the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) must be the core force in performing those duties, said Party General Secretary To Lam.
Addressing the 12th Party Congress of the VPA, the 2025–2030 tenure, in Hanoi on September 30, the Party leader noted that in such a context sets new and higher requirements for military and defence tasks, requesting appropriate policies and strategies to adapt to.
He emphasised that the congress marks a pivotal moment in strengthening the army, consolidating national defence, and safeguarding the nation. Over the past five years, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Central Military Commission, and all-level Party committees, the VPA has fulfilled all targets set in the resolution of its 11th Party Congress, demonstrating its core role in building an all-people national defence posture.
The Central Military Commission has led the army in the organisational restructuring to shape a leaner and stronger force, creating a solid prerequisite for building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern army of the people, he said, adding that the VPA has become a model in implementing the Party and State' policy on apparatus streamlining.
General Secretary Lam praised the breakthrough development in the defence industry, along with new strides in international integration and defence diplomacy. Besides, he cotninued, the VPA’s Party organisation has emerged as one of the Party’s exemplary models in politics, ideology, ethics, organisation, and personnel affairs.
Describing those achievements as substantial, he said they have greatly contributed to the fruitful implementation of the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.
He demanded the army's Party organisation and the entire VPA thoroughly grasp and effectively carry out the Party and State's viewpoints, guidelines, and policies on military and national defence, especially the all-people national defence and the "four no's" defence policy, while strongly promoting the army's core role in enhancing national defence.
The Party chief underlined the must to stay steadfast in building a politically strong army, helping maintain and foster the Party's absolute and direct leadership over all aspects of the army, which he described as an immutable principle.
He urged the enhanced building of a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern VPA, underscoring the significance of training and education for officers and soldiers so that they are not only politically steadfast and elite in combat but also responsive to non-traditional security challenges.
Requesting efforts to modernise the army, he stated that it is a must to promote a self-reliant and dual-use defence industry, science-technology development, innovation, and digital transformation as in line with the Politburo's Resolution 57.
International integration and defence diplomacy, he stressed, must be bolstered to maintain strategic balance in overall external relations, including defence diplomacy, thereby helping shape up a peaceful and stable environment and safeguard the nation early and from afar. The VPA should also actively engage in the UN peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions, promoting the image of the Uncle Ho soldiers to the world.
Furthermore, he warned against the risks of war, conflict, and degradation of political thought, morality, and lifestyle, calling for vigilance against “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the army. Due attention must be paid to building a clean and strong Party organisation, firmly upholding the Party's principles, increasing examination and supervision, constantly improve the leadership and combatant capabilities of Party committees and organisations, and develop a contingent of capable and prestigious officers.
Expressing his confidence in the VPA, the Party chief said he hopes that the military will grow stronger, serving as the backbone to protect the socialist Fatherland, maintaining and consolidating a peaceful and stable environment to build a strong and prosperous nation steadily advancing towards socialism./.
