Combining socio-economic development with strengthening national defense and security in Phu Tho

Thoroughly grasping the viewpoints, guidelines, directives and resolutions of the Party and State on the task of building and protecting the Fatherland, especially the Resolution of the 8th Central Committee (13th tenure) on “Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation”, with innovative and creative thinking and proactive, active and effective advice from the Military Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command, in recent years, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee have proposed many policies and solutions to lead and direct the implementation of the task of socio-economic development (SE) associated with strengthening national defense and security (NDS) to build an increasingly solid provincial defense zone (KVPT).

The working group of the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 2 conducted a field survey of the actual industrial mobilization capacity at the Vietnam Foundry Mechanical Joint Stock Company, Thuy Van Industrial Park, Viet Tri City.

Along with the task of economic development and investment attraction, the Provincial Military Party Committee has proactively advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee to focus on building, reviewing, supplementing, perfecting, and effectively implementing plans, policies, mechanisms, and projects for socio-economic development associated with ensuring national defense and security, especially in large projects. The planning and development of economic sectors, especially important sectors, are always prioritized; economic development is always associated with ensuring national defense and security and meeting the requirements and tasks of building and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.

In recent years, foreign direct investment (FDI) has been strongly attracted to Phu Tho. All investment projects in key areas and areas of national defense and security are strictly managed. The process of appraisal, approval, licensing, and supervision of programs and projects related to national defense and security is strictly implemented. From 2013 to present, the authorities have appraised, licensed, managed, and supervised 204 FDI projects, with a total investment capital of 2,371 million USD and 21 non-governmental organizations, government organizations, and international organizations. In addition, many FDI projects with slow progress, ineffective operations, and violations in implementation have been revoked, investment terminated, or handled according to the provisions of law.

Urban planning, regional planning, construction of offices of state agencies, welfare facilities... are all concerned with dual-use, linked to defense tasks, ensuring national defense and security. Mobilizing economic resources from the locality and social resources for building national defense potential in accordance with the spirit of the resolutions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Provincial Party Committee on socio-economic development associated with strengthening and enhancing national defense and security, meeting the training, rehearsal, and combat readiness tasks of the provincial armed forces.

Up to now, the province’s road traffic infrastructure has been improved, increasingly meeting the task of socio-economic development associated with strengthening and enhancing national defense and security. The postal and telecommunications network has good coverage, modern technology, and the ability to upgrade to develop new services to serve people’s lives, develop socio-economic development, and serve national defense and security tasks in the province. Medical work and public health care are focused on; the medical network is consolidated, increasingly meeting the needs of medical examination and treatment and health care for the people, and at the same time being ready to mobilize to perform tasks in the KVPT when there is a situation.

Doan Hung District Military Command organizes the 2023 District Defense Zone Exercise.

Thanks to the advisory work of military agencies at all levels, the Party’s leadership and the government’s management methods are always innovated, ensuring that they are suitable for the actual situation of the locality in the direction of prioritizing key projects on national defense and security. The planning of national defense land from the provincial to grassroots levels is always given attention, in which the land fund for planning the construction of military formation components in the provincial defense zone is prioritized, such as combat bases, rear bases, air defense positions, artillery positions, and constructions serving training and exercise tasks. The annual defense plans and assurance plans of the sectors are supplemented and adjusted in a timely manner, arranging defense formations suitable for the combat objects and changes in each locality and area. Focus on planning communes, wards, and towns into clusters of villages and combat communes. Make full use of valuable terrain, natural caves, traffic works, and irrigation works to build a complete military posture in the KVPT.

So far, Phu Tho is the first province in the military region to build a district-level tunnel using local budget funds. Localities in the province have completed the master plan for the construction of a defense system and the planning of a system of shooting ranges and training grounds for the period 2021-2030 and the following years.

In the KVPT exercise, party committees, authorities at all levels, and commanders of units actively innovated and improved the quality of leadership and direction of exercises and drills; gradually perfected mechanisms and plans; and enhanced the ability to coordinate operations between forces; the results of exercises and drills reached 100% of the plan. Thereby, the leadership capacity of Party committees at all levels, the management and administration of the authorities, the advisory role of military agencies, the police, and local departments, branches, and organizations were gradually improved, meeting the requirements of building and defending the Fatherland in the new situation.

In addition, all levels and branches well implemented social security policies, policies for families of war invalids and martyrs, policies for people with meritorious services to the revolution, policies for the army and the army’s rear, regimes and policies for militia and self-defense forces, and reserve forces. The solidarity between the army and the people was always maintained and nurtured; social security is increasingly ensured, contributing to building a solid “people’s heart position”...

Currently, facing the increasingly high requirements of the task of building and defending the Fatherland in the new situation, the provincial military continues to promote its advisory role with local Party committees and authorities to lead, direct, and organize the drastic and synchronous implementation of comprehensive policies and solutions, strengthening the consolidation of national defense and security associated with socio-economic development in the provincial development zone.

In order to effectively implement the goal of building Phu Tho into a leading province in the Northern midland and mountainous region, building an increasingly solid provincial and district development zone as set out in the Resolution of the 19th Phu Tho Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, in the coming time, the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee will continue to promote the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and strengthen solidarity and unity within the Party. Closely combine economic development with ensuring national defense and security; focus on investment and improve the efficiency of building key economic zones and clusters.

Focus on mobilizing resources for building command posts, works in key economic zones, logistics, and technical bases to ensure a solid foundation. Pay attention to educating historical traditions and national culture, especially for the younger generation. Strengthen the potential of national defense and security, synchronously implement solutions to build revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modernized Army and Police forces, truly a loyal and trustworthy political and combat force of the party, state, and people, contributing to building Phu Tho into a solid economic zone in the defense posture of the Military Region and the whole country.

Bui Van Quang

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee