Therefore, on the one hand, this book marks the consistent and thorough development of theoretical thinking of the leader of our Party on military guidelines, national defense strategies, and protection of the Fatherland in the new period; on the other hand, the book has comprehensive value for all activities of building and implementing military guidelines, national defense strategies, and protection of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, both in the short and long term in general, and for building a politically strong Army in the new period in particular.

The entire content of the book "Some issues on military guidelines and defense strategies in the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new period" has given readers an objective view of the General Secretary, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, a person with dialectical thinking and strategic vision in building military guidelines; defense strategies, military strategies, and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Lieutenant Colonel, PhD HA SON THAI - Academy of Politics, Ministry of National Defense

The multifaceted value of the book was summarized by Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, at the book introduction ceremony "Some issues on military guidelines and defense strategies in the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland in the new period" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong when he said: "The instructions of the General Secretary, Secretary of the Central Military Commission on military guidelines and defense strategies show the smooth combination between the tradition of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people and the rich and vivid practical experience of the comrade; demonstrating the creative thinking, the depth, determination, and responsibility of the comrade, always putting the interests of the nation and the people first and foremost. The leadership and direction of the Party leader contributes to clarifying the development of the Party's theoretical thinking on military guidelines and national defense strategies, especially the leadership role and capacity to plan national defense guidelines and policies to meet the requirements of tasks in the new period.

As both a lecturer and a researcher at the Academy of Politics - the leading center for teaching and researching military social sciences and humanities of the army and the country, I appreciate most the speeches and articles in this book by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on the issue of building a politically strong army. This is clearly shown in the speech of the General Secretary, President, Secretary of the Central Military Commission at the 11th Congress of the Army Party Committee on September 28, 2020: "special attention is paid to building a politically strong army, as a basis for improving the overall quality and combat strength of the entire army. President Ho Chi Minh taught that: "A military without politics is like a tree without roots, useless and harmful". Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to regularly strengthening education on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought; on traditions, national culture, and the class nature of the Army; Regarding the target and partners in the new situation, ensuring that in any conditions and circumstances, the Army is always a political force and a fighting force that is absolutely loyal and trustworthy to the Party, State and people; has high will and determination, overcomes all hardships and sacrifices, and successfully completes all tasks".

Accordingly, this is the "handbook" for the entire Party, the entire people and the entire political system, first of all the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to thoroughly grasp and implement the building of a politically strong Army. Because building a politically strong Vietnam People's Army is a fundamental principle, a continuous issue, creating a premise for the army to advance to a regular, elite and modern state, ensuring that the army is always absolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people, completing every task, overcoming every difficulty, and defeating every enemy.

It can be affirmed that this book, together with the book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" published more than 2 years ago, demonstrates the balance and completeness in the system of viewpoints of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on the two strategic and important tasks and the dialectical relationship between building socialism and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam - one of the ten major relationships identified by our Party from the 11th Congress Document and reaffirmed in the 13th Congress Document.

Lieutenant Colonel, PhD HA SON THAI - Academy of Politics, Ministry of National Defense

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