Party work and political work play the primary role in building a new-style army of the working class. Mentioning this issue, V.I. Lenin once said: conducting party work and political work is not only a basic principle, but also a sharping tool of the Communist Parties for improving their fighting strength and combat readiness of their armies.

Adhering, applying and creatively developing Marxism-Leninism, upon founding the revolutionary armed forces, our Party and Leader Ho Chi Minh have determined the basic viewpoints on the Party’s leadership over the Army, on building the Army politically, and the principles of conducting party work and political work in the Army. As a result, party work and political work have become the "soul and lifeblood" of the Army; the factor ensuring that the Party firmly grasps and exercises the "absolute, direct, and all-round leadership" of the Army in all situations and the Army is truly a military entity of the Party, fighting for national independence associated with socialism and for the happiness of the people.

Ever since the establishment of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Team on 22 December 1944 - the first main force and the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, party work and political work were started with the establishment of a Party cell to lead the Team and the appointment of a political commissar who is in charge of political work. This brought about a huge strength for the newly established force with only 34 team members and rudimentary weapons, to win two consecutive battles of Phai Khat and Na Ngan, making the tradition of winning the first battle, determined to fight and determined to win of the heroic Vietnam People's Army.

In the resistance war against the French colonialists, party work and political work focused on building political and spiritual factors for soldiers and people so that they would heighten their determination to successfully implement the Party's guidelines of "fighting resistance war while conducting national construction", "all-people and all-round resistance war", “protracted resistance war” etc. In particular, during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, facing numerous difficulties and fierceness, Party work and political work were carried out with many contents, forms, and timely and effective measures, driving army officers, soldiers and all people both at the front and in the rear to determine, join hands, and stay united to make the great victory that "resounded the five continents and shook the globe", forcing the French colonialists to sign the Geneva Accords recognising the independence and sovereignty of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

In the resistance war against the US for national salvation, party work and political work saw dramatic developments in terms of content, form, method and force involved, contributing to making officers, soldiers and people uphold their patriotism and socialist sentiment; determined to successfully implement the policy of simultaneously carrying out two strategic tasks of socialist revolution in the North and people's national democratic revolution in the South. The work of ideology, organisation, cadres, mass mobilisation - enemy mobilisation, and policy have tapped into and promoted the political and spiritual factors of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire military, combined the strength of the nation with that of the times, made glorious achievements with the peak being the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, liberating the South, unifying the country, bringing the whole country to the path of socialist development. In the subsequent revolutionary period, party work and political work made significant contributions to arousing and promoting the spirit of solidarity and determination of the entire army and people to successfully carry out the task of firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland and accomplishing glorious international missions.

General Phan Van Giang congratulates participants in an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

In the period of national renewal, in response to the requirements of building the Military, consolidating national defence, and protecting the socialist Fatherland in the new situation, Party work and political work always played the decisive role in building the Military strong in politics as the basis for improving its overall quality, combat strength, building a "lean, compact, strong" Army advancing towards modernity.

In the new context, Party work and political work always follow the reality closely and are carried out effectively in units, especially those operating in remote, border and island areas, in handling non-traditional security challenges, preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, search and rescue; helping people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and build new rural areas; participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations; protecting the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against erroneous and hostile viewpoints, etc., thereby, contributing to building a strong Army in politics, ideology, ethics, organisation and cadres, ensuring that the Army is always a reliable political force, a fighting force absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State and the People, performing well the functions of "an army for combat, an army for work, and an army for production", making the noble qualities and image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" always shine not only to domestic people but also to international friends.

In the coming years, peace, cooperation and development are forecast to still be the main trend, but the world and regional situations continue to evolve very rapidly, complicatedly and unpredictably. Strategic competitions between major powers, armed conflicts, local wars and non-traditional security challenges continue to escalate, impacting the stability and sustainability of the world and the region. As for our country, after nearly 40 years of renovation, we have achieved great achievements of historical significance; the nation's comprehensive strength, international position and prestige have been increasingly enhanced. However, our cause of national construction and defence continues to face many difficulties and challenges. The four dangers pointed out by our Party still remain, even more severe in some aspects. Hostile and reactionary forces are intensifying their sabotage against the Party, the State and the Army through “peaceful evolution”, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation”, and “Military depoliticisation” strategies with extremely sophisticated and insidious plots and tricks. With the care and attention from the Party and the State, the Army continues to be developed in the “refined, compact, and strong” direction, aiming to build a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern People’s Army by 2030. This situation places increasingly high demands and tasks on Party work and political work in the Army, aiming to “meet the requirements of building a politically strong people’s armed force, acting as the core in the cause of national defence, security and Homeland protection in the new situation”. To that end, the entire Army should focus on effectively implementing the following contents:

Firstly, continuing to raise awareness and responsibility of organisations and forces, especially the presiding cadres at all levels, about the position and role of Party work and political work. Party committees and commanders, especially the political commissars, political officers, and commanders at all levels, should continue to thoroughly grasp and deeply understand the position and role of Party work and political work in the Army. They should clearly see that Party work and political work are very important aspects of the Party's leadership towards the Army; the application of viewpoints and principles of Party building and political activities of the Party into a specific revolutionary organisation - the military organisation, whose main functions and tasks are to be ready to fight, fight to protect the Fatherland, protect the Party, the State, and the People; are the basic content and measures in building the Military party strong in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organisation, and cadres. Carrying out party work and political work is the responsibility of all organisations and forces, first of all of Party committees, political commissars, political officers, and commanders, in order to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects over the Army and ensure that in any circumstances, the Army is always a trustworthy political force, a fighting force absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State and the People, and excellently complete all its assigned tasks. Organisations and forces should clearly define their roles and responsibilities in carrying out party work and political work according to their positions and responsibilities, ensuring that wherever there are soldiers, there are party work and political work; overcome inadequate awareness of the position, role, and importance of party work and political work in the Army, and manifestations of irresponsibility which undermines the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of this important work.

Secondly, strengthening the leadership and direction of party committees and commanders at all levels in party work and political work. This is a key issue to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects over the Army, ensuring that party work and political work are always the "soul and lifeblood" of the Army. To effectively implement this content, it is necessary to first focus on building Party committees and Party organisations in the Military party clean, strong, and exemplary, truly the core of leadership in each agency and unit, associated with building "exemplary and typical", all-strong agencies and units. Perfect, consolidate, and improve the comprehensive leadership capacity and fighting strength of party organisations, especially in strategic agencies, and units that are restructured and streamlined. Additionally, attach importance to innovating leadership styles and methods, strictly implementing the Party's organisational and operational principles; strengthen the inspection, supervision and enforcement of Party discipline, and carry out well the work of internal political security. Continue to strictly implement the resolutions, conclusions, directives and regulations of the Party and the Central Military Commission on Party building and rectification work. Promote the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, in conjunction with the Campaign to promote tradition, contribute talents, and be worthy of the title "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the new period, Resolution No. 847-NQ/QUTW, dated 28 December 2021 of the Central Military Commission "On promoting the qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", resolutely fighting against individualism in the new situation". Strengthen management, education, and training and improve the quality of Party members, first of all, the combativeness and exemplary role in political qualities, morality, lifestyle, and actions; maintain solidarity and unity in each agency and unit.

Thirdly, regularly perfecting and improving the quality of political agencies, political cadres, especially the political commissars and political officers at all levels to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation. Party committees and commanders at all levels continue to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement Resolution No. 51-NQ/TW, dated 20 July 2005 of the Politburo (9th tenure), Resolution No. 513-NQ/ĐUQSTW, dated 17 November 2005 of the Central Military Party Committee (now the Central Military Commission) "On continuing to perfect the Party's leadership mechanism, implementing the one-person commander regime associated with implementing the political commissar and political officer regime in the Vietnam People's Army"; Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW, dated 19 May 2018 of the Party Central Committee (12th tenure) on "Building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially the strategic ones, with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, on par with tasks"; Resolution No. 109-NQ/QUTW, dated 11 February 2019 of the Central Military Commission "On building a contingent of military cadres, especially at the campaign and strategic levels, to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation", Regulation No. 2036-QC/QUTW, dated 16 June 2023 of the Central Military Commission "On leading cadre work in the Vietnam People's Army", etc.

Fourthly, continuing to innovate the content, form, and methods of conducting party work and political work in accordance with the objects, tasks, and practices of the Army and the country in the new situation. Thoroughly grasping and strictly implementing the leadership of the Party and the Central Military Commission, directly Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW dated 17 January 2022 of the Politburo (13th tenure), Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW dated 02 April 2022 of the Central Military Commission "On leading the organisation of the Vietnam People's Army in the period of 2021 - 2030 and the following years", Party committees, leading cadres, and political agencies at all levels should closely follow the practical situation, determine the contents, forms, methods, and means of conducting party work and political work appropriately. Attention should be paid to innovating, improving the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of Party work and political work in tasks, especially training and combat readiness ones; Military restructuring and streamlining towards modernisation; regularity building and disciplining; preventing and countering non-traditional security challenges; defence diplomacy; protecting sovereignty over seas and islands; building defence zones, participating in building political bases, developing socio-economy, eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, etc. Promote the proactiveness, sensitivity, creativity and spirit of "dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to innovate and be creative, dare to face difficulties and challenges and dare to act for the common good" of cadres at all levels.

Fifthly, promoting the combined strength of organisations and forces; increasing investments in the facilities and means for conducting party work and political work. Party work and political work in the Vietnam People's Army includes many activities with the involvement of different organisations and forces conducting tasks of various nature and methods. To improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of this very important work, it is necessary to promote the combined strength of organisations and forces, closely coordinate between the Ministry of National Defence and other ministries, central commissions and branches; local Party committees and governments, Fatherland Fronts and mass organisations during implementation; between the activities of political commissars and political officers and those of the commanders; the activities of political agencies and political cadres with other agencies in units. In addition, there is a need to promote the role and responsibility of organisations and forces; especially the role of commanding officers, of staff, logistics and technical agencies in conducting party work and political work. Strengthen the mobilisation and use of resources, modern facilities and technical means, digital transformation in party work and political work. Regularly attach importance to the review of work in each task and each stage to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of party and political work.

Finally, stepping up the struggle on the ideological and theoretical front, contributing to firmly protecting the Party's ideological foundation, defeating the plots and tricks of "peaceful evolution" and "Military depoliticisation" of hostile forces. Party committees, commanders, and political agencies at all levels should strengthen the dissemination and effective implementation of Conclusion No. 89-KL/TW, dated 25 July 2024 of the Politburo (13th tenure) "On continuing to implement Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW, dated 22 October 2018 of the Politburo (12th tenure) on strengthening the protection of the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against erroneous and hostile views in the new situation". Focus on propagation and education to make cadres, soldiers, and people clearly see the dangers of the plots and tricks of "peaceful evolution" and "Military depoliticisation" of hostile forces. Deploy several solutions synchronously to enhance the resistance and revolutionary vigilance of cadres and soldiers. Regularly grasp, manage and resolve the ideological issues of troops, not to be made passive or surprised. Promote the combined strength and role of the forces, especially Steering Committee 35, specialised forces at all levels, news agencies, and resolutely fight to expose the tricks of hostile forces that distort and deny Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought and the leadership role of the Party, as well as the history and heroic traditions of the Party, the nation and the Army.

With a look back at the 80-year journey of establishment, struggle, victory and growth of the Vietnam People's Army, we can be proud of the heroic tradition, great feats and robust developments of the Army, including the great contributions of party work and political work. The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence believe that in the coming time, party work and political work in the Army will continue to be led, directed, and implemented seriously and effectively, thereby contributing to maintaining and strengthening the absolute, direct and all-round leadership of the Party over the Army; building the Army strong in politics, as a basis for improving its overall quality, combat strength, and its excellent accomplishment of assigned tasks, contributing more to the cause of construction and firm defence the Vietnam Socialist Fatherland.

General, Dr. PHAN VAN GIANG, Member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defence