Vietnam has provided up-to-date information regarding the budget and the total number of troops in its army in its third White Paper on National Defence, made public on December 8.

The document reflects complete and systematically-arranged information regarding the organisational structure of the Defence Ministry, forces and divisions, together with the major changes in the national defence made over the last five years.

At a press briefing held the same day, Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said the document deals with the Communist Party of Vietnam’s views on defence, its guidelines and the characteristics of Vietnam ’s military arts and defence policy.

It conveys that Vietnam advocates strongly maintaining and developing its national defence, and adhering to a national policy of peace and self-defence.

The White Paper also provides insight into the country’s defence cooperation policy in many areas and touches upon the nation’s specific policies regarding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and anti-terrorism, as well as the country’s participation in the UN’s peacekeeping forces, and search and rescue activities.

The publication of the 2009 White Paper on National Defence represents Vietnam’s desire and determination to further promote mutual understanding with other countries.

Also, it lays a foundation for Vietnam to develop friendship, cooperation, and equality with other countries on the basis of maintaining mutual respect for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress, the Vietnamese officer said./.