Restructuring army among major yearly tasks: Defence Minister
The major task of the Central Military Commission and the Defence Ministry of Vietnam in 2018 is to reorganise the army forces to make the Vietnam People's Army elite, streamlined, strong and flexible by 2021, according to Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich.
Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The major task of the CentralMilitary Commission and the Defence Ministry of Vietnam in 2018 is to reorganise the army forces to make the Vietnam People's Army elite, streamlined, strong and flexible by 2021, according to Defence Minister General Ngo XuanLich.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on thethreshold of the Lunar New Year, General Lich, who is also Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission, said that from 2018, the DefenceMinistry will adjust the organisation of some agencies and units, while seekingmeasures to tackle redundancy and ensure no rise in the number of personnel in the army.
He said that the ministry will forge stronger bilateraldefence collaboration with foreign countries in a practical and stable manner with balanced relations with world powers, while actively engaging in multilateraldefence cooperation mechanisms.
At the same time, it will focus on building andcompleting a master plan on defence diplomacy by 2020 when Vietnamtakes the charge of ASEAN Chair, he said.
The ministry will pay more attention to strengthening cooperation in politics, defence, technology, military equipment and militarytrade, and foster mutual trust, understanding and experience sharing with thearmies of other countries.
The minister said Vietnam will also organise joint border patrols and defence friendship exchanges with neighboring countries, while getting ready to deploy the field hospital level 2 to the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan,thus making active contributions to the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.
Regardingachievements of the ministry in 2017, General Lich said that the ministrycoordinated closely with other ministries, sectors and agencies in reinforcing the all-people defence, as well as building strong defence zones with priority onmajor localities, islands and border areas.
Meanwhile,the ministry also effectively implemented the arrangement of forces and the equippingof weapons for armed troops, while merging, dissolving and transferringand forming a number of forces to make them elite, streamlined, strong and mobile.
It also launched a project to restructure, reformand improve the effectiveness of military-run enterprises, and tightened themanagement and use of military-owned land areas, he added.-VNA
Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich has highly valued the deputy ministerial-level defence strategic dialogue between Vietnam and Russia, saying that it contributes to enhancing bilateral defence ties as well as comprehensive strategic partnership.
In the rapidly-changing, complex and unpredictable world, Vietnam and Laos need to maintain and further develop their long-standing and loyal relations more than ever.
A grand ceremony was held at the Thong Nhat (Reunification) Palace, Ho Chi Minh City on January 31 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the General Tet Offensive in the spring of 1968.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Seongnam Air Base in Seoul on August 10 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Korea from August 10-13.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA) 
