Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with forces working at Tan Cang - Cai Mep International Port, belonging to Saigon Newport Corporation, Navy_Photo: VNA
Developing marine economy, maintaining independence, sovereignty , sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas , islands and archipelagos
Vietnam is a maritime country with a sea area of about 1 million square kilometers, 3 times the land area, along with thousands of large and small islands and archipelagos and a coastline of more than 3,260km. Vietnam's sea and islands are a component of the national territory, a living space, a gateway for international exchange; holding an important geographical position, located on the vital sea and air routes of the world and countries in the region, as a frontline defense line protecting the eastern flank of the country. The sea and islands together with the mainland form multi-layered fences, fortresses, and ramparts, arranged into a solid, interconnected defense line, holding a strategic position in terms of economy , national defense and security; closely associated with the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. Our sea and islands are rich in resources, creating favorable conditions and great potential for the development of marine economic sectors. Our country's seas, islands and archipelagos, especially the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, are considered "natural fortresses", increasing the depth of defense and helping to create the necessary space to control access to the mainland territory.
The good nature and tradition of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”, tempered through resistance wars, continue to shine in the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland and in the period of national renewal. The Vietnam People’s Army is exemplary in implementing the Party’s resolutions, directives and conclusions; constantly striving, uniting, joining forces, and unanimously overcoming all difficulties and challenges, together with the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to firmly defend the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in all situations; actively participating in socio-economic development, caring for people’s lives, and constantly contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world. Managing and exploiting the potential of the sea in parallel with firmly protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam’s seas , islands and archipelagos, making the country develop and become rich and strong is the consistent policy of our Party. The Party and the State have issued many directives, resolutions, and legal documents to perfect institutions and create a political and legal basis to promote the development of the marine economy in conjunction with ensuring national defense and security at sea. In particular, Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018, of the 12th Central Executive Committee, on the "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045" has determined the viewpoint: "Vietnam must become a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea, with sustainable development, prosperity, security and safety; sustainable development of the marine economy is associated with ensuring national defense and security, maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening foreign affairs and international cooperation on the sea, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development". Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW also sets out specific goals and solutions for developing the marine economy and protecting national sovereignty: First, regarding the marine economy, By 2030, purely marine economic sectors will contribute about 10% of GDP; the economy of 28 coastal provinces and cities is estimated to reach 65-70% of GDP, developing sustainably according to international standards; controlling resource exploitation within the ability to restore marine ecosystems. Second, regarding national defense and security, Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW determines to build a regular, elite revolutionary armed force in a modern direction, prioritizing the modernization of a number of military services, branches, and law enforcement forces at sea; constantly consolidating and strengthening the national defense posture associated with the people's security posture; ensuring the capacity to handle situations well at sea, maintaining independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands, and archipelagos.
In recent years, the development of the marine economy associated with the protection of sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos has achieved many important results. The awareness and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, cadres, party members and people about the importance of the sea and islands, the development of the marine economy and the protection of sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos have been gradually improved. Marine economic sectors have developed rapidly, contributing greatly to the economy and becoming an important driving force for national development. The socio-economic infrastructure system and the lives of people in coastal and island areas have been constantly improved. Scientific research, basic investigation of marine resources and environment; training and development of marine human resources have been focused on, creating stable jobs, promoting the restructuring of industries and occupations towards industrialization, modernization and sustainability. The connection between marine economic development and national defense and security is increasingly tight and synchronous. The forces managing, protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests, enforcing the law and protecting national security, order and safety in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos (Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Maritime Militia and Self-Defense Force, etc.) are invested in and built, with increasingly high overall quality and combat strength; the national defense posture, the people's security posture, the "people's hearts posture" at sea are consolidated and enhanced, meeting the requirements and tasks in the new situation.
However, the task of developing the marine economy in association with ensuring national maritime sovereignty in recent times still has some limitations, difficulties and challenges. The international, regional and East Sea situations are complicated and unpredictable. Hostile forces are trying to take advantage of complex and sensitive issues related to the sea and islands to sabotage the Party and the State. The process of developing the marine economy has not yet fully exploited the potential and advantages of the sea and islands; our country is not really a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea. The planning and implementation of strategies, plans and schemes at times and in some areas have not closely linked economic development with strengthening national defense and security, have not integrated and optimized investment resources, promoted the strength and complementarity between sectors and regions of the marine economy. Development investment in some places is still scattered, lacking synchronization and efficiency; has not attracted strong investment to develop high-tech marine industries; economic structure has shifted slowly. The forces managing and protecting the sea are still limited in equipment and means, making it difficult to maintain a regular and continuous presence over the entire vast sea area; the coordination, command and operation mechanisms between the forces are still somewhat inadequate...
Entering a new era, the cause of sustainable development of the marine economy associated with firmly ensuring sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos is facing many favorable opportunities, but also facing many difficulties and intertwined challenges. This is one of the tasks of special strategic significance, contributing to realizing the vision of the new era, with two major goals of the country, which are: 1- In 2030, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, Vietnam becomes a developing country with modern industry and high average income; 2- In 2045, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vietnam becomes a developed socialist country with high income. Accordingly, the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army must continue to pay attention to properly resolving the relationship between economic development and strengthening national defense and security; between exploiting the potential and strengths of the sea and islands and firmly protecting national sovereignty; between building the strength and capacity to exploit the sea and the strength and ability to protect the sea. "Strengthening the army", a strong development of the marine economy will create position and strength, creating favorable material conditions to strengthen national defense and security to firmly, unifiedly and completely protect the sea and islands, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party's viewpoint on protecting the Fatherland early and from afar in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland today. On the contrary, firmly consolidated national defense and security contribute to protecting the sea and islands, maintaining peace and stability, creating an environment, space, favorable and safe conditions for marine economic sectors to develop effectively and sustainably.
To promote the development of the marine economy, ensure sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos, it is necessary to continue to adhere to the spirit of the "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation" and the "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, vision to 2045". Focus on information, propaganda, raising awareness of the position and role of the sea and islands; on sustainable marine economic development and the relationship with ensuring national defense - security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos in the new situation. Build and perfect mechanisms, policies, strategies, and master plans combining economic development with national defense - security in seas and coastal areas. Develop on the basis of a blue marine economy, a circular economy, associated with the conservation of marine ecosystems, and protection of environmental resources. Research, apply, develop science and technology, train high-quality human resources in the marine field; research, basic investigation of resources, forecasting, warning of natural disasters, monitoring and supervising the marine environment, preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, searching and rescuing, adapting to climate change and rising sea levels. Continue to pay attention to investing in building a strong national defense force and posture at sea, in which the Vietnam People's Navy plays the core role. Build modern, synchronous, dual-use marine and island infrastructure, ensuring both national defense and security tasks and serving socio-economic development, improving people's lives, contributing to building a "people's heart posture", promoting the combined strength to firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos and sustainably developing the marine economy in the new era.
Navy soldiers on duty at DK1 platform, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province_Photo: VNA
The role of the Vietnam People's Navy
May 7, 1955 is the founding day of the Vietnam People's Navy. After 70 years of building, fighting and growing, the Navy has achieved many outstanding and especially outstanding feats: Winning the first battle on August 2, 1964 and August 5, 1964; together with the army and people of the North to defeat the destructive war of the US imperialists; acting as the core, main force, and leading the fight against the US imperialists' blockade of the rivers and seas of the North with mines and magnetic bombs; opening the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea to transport and support the battlefield in the South; organizing and building the water special forces to fight in the Cua Viet - Dong Ha battlefield; participating in the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1975, liberating the South and the Truong Sa archipelago, contributing to the historic victory of the nation; successfully completing international missions with the friendly countries of Laos and Cambodia; Building a "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern" military service, as the core to manage and firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands, marine economic activities, and maintain a peaceful and stable environment at sea for national development.
Along with successfully completing military and defense tasks, the Vietnam People's Navy has always actively participated in labor, production, and economic development. This is one of the profound practical lessons for the Navy to continuously develop and mature, fulfilling the functions of "a fighting army, a working army, a labor and production army". In particular, with the role of the core force in managing, protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos, the Navy regularly operates at sea, is knowledgeable about the sea, is equipped with specialized technical means, and knows how to promote potential and strengths in implementing the policy of combining economy with defense, developing the marine economy in association with protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos.
Since being assigned by the Government and the Army to build and develop the economy (in 1976), the Vietnam People's Navy has always identified participation in labor, production, and economic development as one of the key political tasks, inseparable from military and national defense tasks. The Party Committee and the Navy Command regularly disseminate and strictly implement the Party and State's guidelines, policies, and laws; direct enterprises and national defense economic units to promote internal strength, overcome difficulties, innovate, exploit all resources, potentials, and strengths, bring production and business activities into depth, quality, and efficiency, closely linked to military and national defense tasks, firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands, and archipelagos, and the country's resources. Actively build and develop a number of effective, pioneering, dual-use production and economic construction types, associated with building a national defense posture at sea and on islands, such as seaport exploitation and logistics services; shipbuilding and repair; oil and gas protection services; construction and repair of marine works; fishing and aquaculture; provision of fishing logistics services... Production and business sectors and occupations have created large sources of revenue, contributing to the country's economic development (1) , while creating resources for the Navy to improve soldiers' lives, support investment in means and equipment for military and defense missions.
To contribute to the development of marine and island infrastructure, the Navy has advised and proposed the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to implement major projects, strategic and dual-use works, such as wharves, docks, fishing villages, maritime defense economic zones, islands, defense works, etc., contributing to promoting socio-economic development and strengthening national defense potential at sea. At the same time, the Navy's forces, in the process of performing tasks at sea, regularly support and protect the safety of marine economic activities; actively participate in search, rescue and salvage work, especially in far-off seas, with the spirit of "helping people is a combat mission in peacetime, a command of the heart"; provide oil, fresh water, food and provisions for fishing boats, helping fishermen feel secure to go out to sea for long periods of time, increasing the presence of fishermen in sea areas, especially far-off seas...
Our country is entering a new era, an era of national development. To contribute to the entire Party, people and army to successfully carry out the cause of developing the marine economy, protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in the seas, islands and archipelagos of the Fatherland, the Vietnam People's Navy continues to perform well the functions and tasks of a "combat army, a working army, a labor and production army" in new conditions and new circumstances.
Performing the functions and tasks of a "combat army", in the context of the complicated and unpredictable developments in the world, the region and the East Sea, the increasingly heavy requirements for the task of protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in the seas, islands and archipelagos of the Fatherland, the Vietnam People's Navy continues to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the guidelines, policies, laws of the Party and the State, especially Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW, dated November 24, 2023, of the 8th Central Conference, term XIII, on "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation", Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018, of the Central Executive Committee, term XII, on "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, vision to 2045". Regularly raise vigilance, research and accurately forecast the situation; Proactively advise and propose to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense basic, strategic and long-term policies and solutions on seas and islands; handle situations in accordance with policies, avoid being passive and surprised, avoid conflicts, take advantage of them and create pretexts for armed conflicts and wars, firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos, and marine economic activities, maintain a peaceful and stable environment at sea to develop a rich and strong country in the new era. Continue to research, advise and propose to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to build a strong, in-depth, interconnected, flexible and transformable national defense posture at sea, with the Navy as the core, truly "refined, compact, strong", "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern", with increasingly high levels of combat readiness.
Performing the functions and tasks of a "working army", the Vietnam People's Navy attaches importance to and does well the mass mobilization work in the new situation, especially in key, strategic, border, sea and island areas. The focus is on closely and regularly coordinating with departments, ministries, branches, units and localities to promote propaganda work on seas and islands, raising awareness and responsibility of all levels, branches, cadres, party members and the masses about the position, role and importance of Vietnam's seas and islands in the cause of national construction and defense; the viewpoints, guidelines, policies, laws of our Party and State on sustainable development of the marine economy associated with protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos. Resolutely fighting against the plots and tricks of hostile forces that take advantage of complex and sensitive issues related to seas and islands to sabotage our Party and State. Continue to effectively implement the program "Vietnam Navy as a fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea", the activity "Navy sponsors fishermen's children"; help people develop the economy, sustainably reduce poverty, prevent, combat and overcome the consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue, contribute to building a "people's heart position" at sea, create a combined strength to firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos and sustainably develop the marine economy. At the same time, thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the Party and State's foreign policy and international integration; promote international cooperation and integration in defense with the Army and Navy of other countries in depth and substance, both multilaterally and bilaterally, especially relations with the Navies of ASEAN countries, major countries, friends and traditional partners; together with the Navies of other countries, enhance understanding and trust, build peaceful and stable seas; enhance the position and prestige of the Vietnam People's Navy in the international arena, build trust and gain international support to firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in the seas, islands and archipelagos of the Fatherland early and from afar.
In order to perform the functions and tasks of a "labor and production army", the Navy must thoroughly implement the guidelines, policies and laws on economic development associated with national defense of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. Continue to restructure, organize and innovate business operations, improve production and business efficiency and the capacity to perform military and national defense tasks. Make good use of high-quality human resources; arrange and organize a streamlined, efficient and effective enterprise apparatus. Promote the strengths of industries and professions (building and repairing ships and inland waterway vehicles; port exploitation, logistics services; protecting oil and gas activities at sea...). Organize well the activities of fishery logistics services, creating a solid foundation to help fishermen go offshore and stick to the sea; promote the implementation of projects and plans to build dual-use infrastructure in sea areas, islands and archipelagos. Enterprises actively research and develop science, apply advanced technology, digital management, develop digital infrastructure, exploit and effectively use digital resources; train and select qualified staff; prevent waste, unleash resources and potential, expand production and business scale. Select suitable enterprises, develop into a marine economic army based on three traditional pillars (port exploitation; logistics services; transportation and marine economic sectors) and expand two new pillars (sea and island tourism services and offshore renewable energy development), contributing to promoting the country's economic growth to reach 8% in 2025 and reach double digits in the following years in the era of national development.
Developing the marine economy in association with protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in Vietnam's seas, islands and archipelagos is a particularly important task of the entire Party, people and army. In the coming time, the Navy will continue to build a "refined, compact, strong", "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern" force with increasingly high overall quality and combat strength, truly serving as the core to firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in the seas, islands and archipelagos of the Fatherland; at the same time, actively participate in economic development associated with ensuring national defense and security in the seas, islands and archipelagos, contributing to bringing the country steadily into a new era - an era of strong and prosperous development./.
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(1) Such as Saigon Newport Corporation - the largest port operator and logistics service provider in Vietnam according to Vietnam Report, top 16 container port clusters with the largest throughput in the world; shipbuilding and repair factories; economic - defense fleets with public fishing fleets, service fleets, logistics - technical fishing service centers,...
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/quoc-phong-an-ninh-oi-ngoai1/-/2018/1093102/hai-quan-nhan-dan-viet-nam-voi-nhiem-vu-phat-trien-kinh-te-bien%2C-giu-vung-doc-lap%2C-chu-quyen%2C-quyen-chu-quyen%2C-quyen-tai-phan-va-loi-ich-quoc-gia-tren-cac-vung-bien%2C-dao-va-quan-dao-cua-viet-nam.aspx
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