Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese army must evolve into a force that is not only “regular, elite, and modern” but also “agile, flexible, and digitally savvy”, Party General Secretary To Lam said at the 11th military emulation congress in Hanoi on September 24.
The event, co-hosted by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, reviewed five years of achievements during the 2020-2025 period and set priorities for the next half decade.
General Secretary Lam, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, tied the army’s ethos to President Ho Chi Minh’s patriotic emulation drive, which gave rise to the “Determined-to-Win” campaign. This drive, focused on excelling in combat, work and production, has become a defining trait of the army and a pillar of the nationwide emulation movement launched by the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh.
He expressed satisfaction at the campaign’s reach beyond military ranks, permeating ministries, localities, businesses, and communities, and fostering a culture of patriotic emulation to bolster national construction and defence.
The leader stressed the need for transparent evaluations, timely commendations, and constructive criticism to drive mutual progress.
The “Determined-to-Win” campaign should serve as an “operating system” for three core roles, he suggested. As a combat force, the army must train in conditions mirroring real warfare, mastering advanced weaponry and technology while maintaining strict safety and discipline. As a civic workforce, it should focus on garnering public support, reinforcing grassroots political systems, ensuring social stability, and building public trust. As a production force, the army should spearhead research, design, and manufacturing; dominate production technical supply chains, and drive socio-economic development in remote, border, and island areas while accelerating digital transformation in defence and logistics, he said.
He called for an end to superficial practices and a focus on quality and effectiveness over hollow metrics.
The Party chief took the occasion to present a banner bearing the inscription: “Loyal and steadfast – United with discipline – Breakthrough for development – Determined to fight and win" to the congress.
Earlier, Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang signed a decision awarding emulation flags to 84 units, plus certificates of merit to 151 collectives and 158 individuals for their outstanding performance in the 2020 - 2025 period. The congress also saw 56 collectives under the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence earn their own emulation flags./.
