(VOVworld)- 70 years ago, on December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Military Unit, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army was founded. The military unit has inherited and brought into play Vietnam’s patriotism and military art to gain great victories in Vietnam’s history of national struggles for liberation and defense. The Vietnam People’s Army has also contributed to maintaining peace in the world.

Over the last 70 years of development with several challenges and harsh difficulties, the Vietnam People’s Army has demonstrated the strength of a revolutionary army, which was originated by the people and which fought for the people, a special political force, and a combat force loyal to and trusted by the Vietnamese Party, State and people. The Vietnam People’s Army has fulfilled its tasks of promoting national defense’s external relations, strengthening international integration and participating in the UN peacekeeping force for humanitarian purposes.

Comprehensively strengthening the Army to sustain national defense

The Vietnam People’s Army has always been consistent to the goal of fighting for national independence and socialism. Building a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern army reflects the Communist Party of Vietnam’s strategic vision in national defense affairs, safeguarding national independence and territorial integrity, and maintaining peace and stability. Minister of National Defense General Phung Quang Thanh says building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern army aims to strengthen national defense in all circumstances: “We need to combine strength to ensure national defense, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the political regime. Human resources and politics are the decisive factors in building an army, but modern weapons are indispensable for the army to fulfill its national defense tasks. So we need to establish a modern army capable of defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity in all circumstances”.

At present, the situation in the region and the world remains complicated and unstable. The Asia-Pacific region and Southeast Asia is coping with numerous difficulties and challenges due to increasing territorial disputes over land, sea and island border sovereignty. In this context, the Vietnam People’s Army needs to closely combine socio-economic development tasks with consolidating and strengthening national defense, security and external relations, and focus on sustaining all-people’s national defense. 

Strengthening integration and maintaining world peace

Vietnam has constantly strengthened international cooperation in national defense and trust building with several countries. The Vietnam People’s Army has enhanced international cooperation to improve its science and technology capabilities and implement international missions. Over the past years, Vietnam has participated in numerous regional and global forums on national defense. In the last 2 years, Vietnam has participated in the UN peacekeeping mission, which, according to Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, reflects Vietnam’s contribution to maintaining world peace and stability.“Vietnam doesn’t aim at encroaching upon any country but only wants to defend its territorial sovereignty. Vietnam will participate in maneuvers for humanitarian purposes. The maneuvers helped Vietnam to realize that its experience in military medicine, military engineering, bomb and mine clearance and search and rescue are useful. Vietnam has actively participated in all missions and been recognized internationally”.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said that Vietnam has always been consistent to the goal of national independence in connection with socialism while enhancing national defense external affairs. Vietnam gives top priority to maintaining peace and stability in order to enhance its socio-economic development. Vietnam pursues a national defense policy of peace and self-defense, not using or threatening to use force in handling international relations, and resolving territorial disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law. The Vietnamese Party and State is determined to develop a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern army.