According to General Pham Van Tra, combining economy with national defense is a tradition that has been formed and nurtured throughout thousands of years of our nation's history. A country with a developed economy and strong economic potential will be the premise and foundation for building a strong national defense. Conversely, a strong national defense will create conditions and a political environment for economic development and economic protection.

General Pham Van Tra presented a paper at the conference. Photo: PHU SON

When assigned by the Party and the Government to important positions in the General Staff and later as Minister of National Defense , one of the contents that General Pham Van Tra was very fond of in combining economy with national defense was to build economic-defense zones, turning "unpopulated forest areas" on the country's border into economic-defense zones, organizing the Army and people to build agricultural and forestry farms in strategic areas, remote areas, as the foundation for the national defense and security posture.

General Pham Van Tra and the collective leadership of the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army repeatedly surveyed and researched the development of projects for economic -defense zones, then proposed to the Government a plan to organize a system of economic-defense zones throughout the country, which was approved by the Government.

In July 1998, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai issued a decision approving the Socio-Economic Development Program for Communes with Special Difficulties in Mountainous and Remote Areas. Immediately after that, the Central Military Party Committee (now the Central Military Commission) issued a Resolution “On the Army’s participation in production and economic activities, promoting its core role, participating in socio-economic construction and development, and strengthening national defense and security in strategic areas”.

The construction of economic-defense zones has contributed to socio-economic development, gradually improving and enhancing the material and spiritual life of the people, thereby building the defense and security posture, and at the same time this is a way for the Party, Government and Army to repay the gratitude of the people. The defense and security posture in key strategic areas has been built and consolidated more and more firmly.

According to General Pham Van Tra, to achieve great achievements in implementing the policy of combining economy with national defense, it is impossible not to mention the role and great contributions of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. The Chief of the General Staff regularly pays attention to, inspects, encourages and directs, orients awareness, ideology and removes difficulties and shortcomings; clearly defines the organization, staffing, policy mechanisms, creates favorable conditions for military enterprises to operate; actively and proactively coordinates effectively with central and local departments, ministries and branches in advising the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense to issue documents to lead and direct the construction of a strong national defense and people's security. Advises and directs the planning and arrangement of national defense combined with economy, economy combined with national defense; organizes economic units appropriately, meeting the requirements and tasks in economic development and when war situations occur...

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/tin-tuc/dai-tuong-pham-van-tra-tiem-luc-kinh-te-manh-la-co-so-de-xay-dung-nen-quoc-phong-manh-841303