Vietnam Holds Key Meetings on Defense and Economic Policy

Vietnam's Communist Party held several key meetings on June 30 to advance national security and economic growth strategies. The Navy convened a Party Committee meeting on the afternoon of June 30, adopting resolutions on implementing tasks for the second half of the year. Senior General Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, a Politburo member, Central Secretary, and Director of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People's Army, urged the Navy to further focus on defending national sovereignty over seas and islands. This requires constant vigilance, accurate early and long-range forecasting of situations, and enhancing the quality of information management, research, assessment, and forecasting of foreign activities in maritime zones. He also stressed the strict implementation of Ministry of National Defense Directive No. 76/CT-BQP dated April 28, 2026, to strengthen political education, ideological management, discipline maintenance, and safety assurance. Furthermore, he called for streamlining forces toward being "lean, effective, and strong," promoting the "Determined to Win" emulation movement, improving leadership capabilities of Party committees at all levels, and ensuring the proper implementation of policies and regimes for naval personnel and the "Repaying Gratitude" movement. The organization of defense diplomacy activities, especially promoting practical and effective cooperation with navies of neighboring countries and major powers, along with administrative reform linked to the e-government project within the Navy, were also highlighted. In the afternoon of the same day, the Ministry of National Defense and the State Audit Office held a joint conference and signed a cooperation regulation for audit activities. Senior General Phan Văn Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense, emphasized that audit activities have not only contributed to confirming the accuracy and truthfulness of financial information but, more importantly, have helped the Ministry of National Defense identify risks, rectify weaknesses, improve management mechanisms, and enhance the efficiency of resource utilization. He stated that in the coming period, cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense and the State Audit Office must be integrated into the overall renewal of defense management methods, strengthening power control, tightening financial discipline, and improving the efficiency of utilizing all assigned resources to meet task requirements. The cooperation process should have clear focal points, responsibilities, progress, and results, enhancing the quality of cooperation throughout the entire audit cycle. Audit plans must closely align with management requirements, focusing on areas, units, and content with high risks. Close coordination with inspection, examination, and internal audit activities is necessary to minimize overlap, reduce administrative pressure, and avoid impacting the military and defense tasks of units. Audit results should be considered important data sources for perfecting institutions, policies, and improving management quality. Additionally, on June 30, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee held a conference to announce and award the decision to establish the "Ho Chi Minh City Development Research Committee," comprising 24 members and chaired by Mr. Trần Lưu Quang, Politburo member and Secretary of the City Party Committee. The committee is tasked with advising the City Party Committee's Standing Committee and the City Party Committee on formulating policies and resolutions for Ho Chi Minh City's socio-economic development, and researching and proposing breakthrough mechanisms, policies, and solutions to implement the city's key tasks and trọng điểm projects. Secretary Trần Lưu Quang emphasized the role, position, and necessity of the Development Research Committee in the current period. He highly praised the experience and work process of the assigned members and expressed confidence that the committee would leverage its capabilities, strengths, and sense of responsibility to successfully complete its assigned tasks. He urged the committee to promptly finalize its operational regulations, develop its annual work program, establish its sub-committees, and begin implementing its tasks to ensure practical and effective operations.