Make defense industry Vietnam's spearhead: PM

Speaking at a conference in Hanoi on Monday, Chinh said in the past, the defense industry has achieved important results with its increasingly diversified and quality products, contributing to the nation's self-reliance in weapons and equipment, gradually modernizing the army and strengthening national defense.

He said in future, the industry should be developed towards serving both military and civilian purposes.

He requested the Central Military Commission, the highest Communist Party unit in Vietnam on military policy, and the Ministry of National Defense to complete the apparatus and reorganize core defense industrial establishments to set up a national defense industry complex that is efficient and advanced, as well as develop specific mechanisms and policies to attract and develop high-quality personnel.

He requested to combine the construction and development of the defense industry in the national strategy of industrial construction and development, promote international cooperation and technology transfer, as well as application of scientific and technological achievements.

The White Paper on Vietnam National Defense issued in 2019 stated that defense spending was commensurate with the country's economic development, increasing from 2.23% of GDP in 2010 to 2.36% in 2018 to approximately $5.8 billion.