Addressing delegates at the congress in Hanoi on September 30, the Party leader affirmed that the military must take the lead in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, while playing a vital role in the country's development in the new era.

To achieve this, he said, the military must continue to build a comprehensively strong, revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern force that remains absolutely loyal to the Party, State, and people, and steadfast in the goal of national independence associated with socialism.

The General Secretary particularly emphasised the need to build a strong, modern all-people national defence posture integrated with the people’s security posture, placing the people at the centre and as the driving force of the national defence effort.

Building a politically strong army, he stressed, is a fundamental, unchanging principle to ensure the military remains a loyal and trustworthy political and combat force of the Party, State, and people.

One of the key requirements set out by the General Secretary was to accelerate the development of an autonomous, modern, dual-use defence industry. He also suggested fostering innovation, advancing science and technology, and accelerating digital transformation. He instructed the military to continue deepening international integration and defence diplomacy, expanding both bilateral and multilateral cooperation to help maintain a peaceful and stable environment from early on and from afar.

The Party chief commended the outstanding achievements of the Military Party Organisation in the past term. The Central Military Commission and the armed forces have effectively performed their strategic advisory role to the Party and State on military and defence affairs, responded flexibly and promptly to emerging situations, and firmly maintained a strong all-people national defence posture. The army has also been at the forefront of disaster prevention and control, pandemic response, search and rescue operations, courageously overcoming hardships and sacrifices to protect the lives and property of the people.

With regard to Party building, the Military Party Organisation was recognised as one of the exemplary and model party organisations within the entire Party system. The military has successfully built a politically, ideologically, ethically, organisationally, and personnel-wise strong force, thereby strengthening public trust in the revolutionary armed forces.

Looking to the future, the General Secretary outlined major tasks for the military in the next term. These include thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the Party’s and State’s guidelines and policies on military and defence affairs; promoting the motto of "relying on the people, considering the people as the root and the centre" of the cause of national defence; and further strengthening the close bond between the military and the people.

Given the increasingly complex developments in the global and regional context, he urged the military to proactively monitor and assess the situation, provide timely strategic advice, and recommend effective responses to safeguard national interests and maintain peace and stability for development.

The 12th Congress of the Army's Party Organisation has brought together 450 delegates representing more than 270,000 Party members in the armed forces. The Congress aims to review the results achieved during the 2020–2025 term and to set out directions, objectives, and key tasks for the 2025–2030 term. The Congress is scheduled to run through October 2.

12th Party Congress of Vietnam People’s Army kicks off

The 12th Party Congress of the Vietnam People’s Army, the 2025–2030 tenure, opened in Hanoi on September 30 morning.