Promoting endogenous strength, maintaining national independence and autonomy

Senior Lieutenant General, Academician, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Huy Hieu - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Minister of National Defense.

That is the opinion of Senior Lieutenant General, Academician, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Huy Hieu - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Minister of National Defense in an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter about the content of the Draft document of the 14th National Party Congress.

Maintaining independence and sovereignty - the foundation of national defense

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu, in any historical period, independence and sovereignty are always the root of all development strategies. That is not only the highest goal but also the prerequisite for protecting and developing the country. " The world may change but Vietnam must maintain its independence" - he affirmed.

From his many years of experience working in the military, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu believes that a peaceful and stable environment is a decisive factor for development. Without peace, it is impossible to talk about socio-economic development. Vietnam has always clearly identified two strategic tasks: building and defending the Fatherland, which go hand in hand and are closely linked together. Maintaining peace is protecting the conditions for sustainable development.

In the overall national strength, economy and national defense have an organic and mutual relationship. A solidly developed economy will create resources to strengthen national defense and security; conversely, a strong national defense will protect the results of development, creating a stable environment to attract investment and international integration.

“Without the economy, national defense cannot be strong. Economy is the foundation, national defense is the support, these two factors must be strengthened together in an overall development strategy,” Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu emphasized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects some defense industrial products researched and manufactured by Viettel Group. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu said that in the new era, mastering science and technology and maintaining independence and autonomy are vital requirements. Vietnam needs to take advantage of the world's best, but must know how to select, inherit, and apply them appropriately to practical conditions and national cultural traditions. He said: "We cannot stop at empiricism, but must know how to filter and create, combining Vietnamese wisdom with human knowledge."

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu, the decisive factor for all success is still people. “We must build Vietnamese people with knowledge, courage, independence and a desire to rise up. Training people today is also preparing for the next generation, a long-term investment for the future of the country.”

He emphasized that no matter how modern artificial intelligence is, it is only a product of humans and cannot replace humans. The important thing is to know how to exploit and use technology intelligently but not to depend on or absolutize it.

In the current context of integration, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu said that today's young generation of Vietnam is very dynamic, intelligent, and has the ability to quickly access global knowledge. "Many Vietnamese students have won high prizes in international competitions. That shows that our nation has great intellectual potential, which needs to be promoted through policies to respect talents, encourage creativity, and contribute to the country," he shared.

Promoting the strength of great solidarity and closely combining economics - defense - foreign affairs

Referring to the content of promoting the combined strength of the political system and the great national unity bloc in the Draft Document of the 14th National Congress, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu affirmed: "The strength of great national unity is the source of Vietnam's strength throughout history."

From the resistance war against France and the US to the current national construction, that strength has always been inherited and promoted. Under the light of Ho Chi Minh's thought, the Vietnam People's Army is identified as a fighting army, a working army and a production labor army that both protects the Fatherland and is closely attached to and accompanies the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh listens to an introduction of some defense industry products. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

In peacetime, many military units have become the core force for socio-economic development in remote, border and island areas, typically the 15th and 16th Army Corps in the Central Highlands, units in the central and northern regions, etc. They have participated in developing production, helping people stabilize their lives, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, and are ready to fight when the Fatherland needs them. According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu, "those are the units that are building a people's heart position, which is the key factor of all-people national defense."

He emphasized: When the people's trust in the armed forces is strengthened, a combined strength will be formed that no force can subdue. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to perfect the mechanism and policies to combine economic development with strengthening national defense and security, especially in strategic areas; at the same time, care for people's lives, strengthen the solidarity of ethnic groups, and build a solid "people's hearts position".

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu also particularly emphasized Vietnam's independent and autonomous foreign policy, considering it a vivid manifestation of national character. According to him, the four basic principles of the current foreign policy "not participating in military alliances; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases in Vietnam; not allying with one country to fight another; and not using or threatening to use force in international relations" - are the foundation to ensure Vietnam maintains its independence and autonomy, while maintaining a peaceful environment for development.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu was most pleased that the document provided forecasts and directions for changes in the world and regional situation, thereby proposing solutions suitable to Vietnam's characteristics. (Photo: PV)

Along with that, Vietnam needs to continue to build its defense potential in conjunction with its economic potential, promote the development of modern defense industry, master science and technology, and move towards self-production of weapons and strategic equipment. He said: "The development of the defense industry will contribute to promoting civilian science and technology, enhancing competitiveness and affirming Vietnam's intelligence in the international arena."

According to the Senior Lieutenant General, the goal of these orientations is not only to maintain security and protect the Fatherland, but also to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam, on par with the world powers as Uncle Ho once instructed.

Strategic vision and belief in national consensus

In his general assessment of the Draft Documents of the 14th National Congress, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu said that this document was carefully prepared, scientifically and practically, clearly demonstrating the Party's strategic vision in the new development period. The goals were specifically and comprehensively defined in all areas from economy, society, culture to national defense, security and foreign affairs.

Expanding the collection of opinions from people at home and overseas on the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress is a democratic and scientific way of doing things, demonstrating a spirit of openness, while at the same time arousing the responsibility, intelligence and sentiment of every Vietnamese person towards the future of the country.
Senior Lieutenant General, Academician, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Huy Hieu

The point he was most impressed with was that the Draft Document had made predictions and directions for changes in the world and regional situation, thereby proposing solutions suitable to Vietnam's characteristics. "This document not only looks to 2030 but also has a vision to 2045, aiming at the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country," he said.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu also highly appreciated the expansion of the collection of opinions from the people at home and overseas on the draft document. According to him, this is a democratic and scientific way of doing things, demonstrating the spirit of seeking knowledge, while at the same time arousing the responsibility, intelligence and sentiment of each Vietnamese person towards the future of the country. "When the people participate in giving opinions, when the voices of all classes are heard, then the document will truly be the crystallization of the Party's will and the people's heart," he emphasized.

With deep faith in the Party's guidelines and the strength of national solidarity, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu affirmed: "I believe that the Draft Documents of the 14th National Congress, after being completed on the basis of absorbing the people's enthusiastic contributions, will become a vivid and creative resolution, consistent with the country's development process, bringing Vietnam into a new stage of development, independence, self-reliance, strength and humanity."

Khanh Lan-Minh Phuong

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-huy-suc-manh-noi-sinh-giu-vung-doc-lap-tu-chu-cua-dat-nuoc-post922317.html