Prepare early, from afar, not to let the country be passive or surprised in any situation

On April 28, in Hanoi, General Secretary, President To Lam, Commander of the People's Armed Forces, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council chaired the first session of the National Defense and Security Council for the 2026-2031 term, after the 16th National Assembly approved the members of the new term Council.

This is an opening session of great significance, taking place in the context that the entire Party, people, and army are focusing on implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress; the state apparatus of the new term has been consolidated, entering a new stage of development with very high requirements for maintaining political stability, strengthening national defense, ensuring security and firmly protecting the Fatherland.

At the Meeting, the Council considered, discussed and gave opinions on 3 key contents: Report summarizing the implementation of the Operating Regulations of the Council for the 2021-2026 term and operating directions for the 2026-2031 term; Draft Operating Regulations of the Council for the 2026-2031 term; Draft Program for the entire term of the Council for the 2026-2031 term.

The meeting unanimously recognized that the National Defense and Security Council is a special constitutional institution, associated with important issues of the nation and people; having the function and task of considering and resolving particularly important issues related to national defense, security and protection of the Fatherland.

In the world and regional situation, which continues to develop rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably; fierce strategic competition between major countries; traditional and non-traditional security challenges intertwined, the requirement for the Council is to proactively research, assess, forecast, and prepare early and remotely, not to let the country be passive or surprised in any situation.

The opinions at the Meeting focused on objectively and comprehensively assessing the results of implementing the Operating Regulations of the Council for the 2021-2026 term; clarifying the achieved results, and at the same time frankly pointing out the shortcomings and limitations in the coordination mechanism, information and reporting regime, content preparation methods, quality of research, forecasting, advising and handling of inter-sectoral and inter-field issues.

On that basis, the Council gives opinions on the direction of activities for the 2026-2031 term, ensuring practical and effective activities in accordance with the functions and powers according to the provisions of the Constitution and law.

Regarding the Draft Operating Regulations for the new term, the Council emphasized the requirement to ensure clear principles, clear responsibilities, clear authority, clear coordination mechanisms, clear working regimes; and at the same time be proactive, flexible, and timely in handling issues arising from practice.

For the full-term activity program, the Council identifies key, strategic, and important issues within the scope of the Council's functions and tasks; ensuring comprehensiveness but not scattered, with focus and key points, promoting the role of strategic orientation and forecasting.

The first session of the National Defense and Security Council for the 2026-2031 term was successful, laying an important foundation for the organization of the Council's activities throughout the term, contributing to improving the effectiveness of leadership and direction in handling strategic issues on national defense, security, foreign affairs, and firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland in the new situation.

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