VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is studying to be able to produce modern military weapons in order to reduce weapon imports, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, said in an interview with VnEexpress.

Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan.

- What is the mainstream military doctrine of Vietnam today?

- Vietnam’s military theory is building a regular, elite army, gradually modernizing, proceeding to modernize the entire army. In the previous period, we have modernized five military forces, including the Air Defense, Navy, Communications, Technical Reconnaissance and Electronic Operation. In this stage, we will proceed to modernize all arms.

A unique feature of Vietnam’s military doctrine that we have maintained is to build the people's war form to defend the country, maintaining stability and creating a favorable environment for development. At the same time, we are ready to defeat any enemy that would invade our country.

- With the duty to protect sovereignty, peace and territorial integrity of the country, how has  the Vietnam People's Army been modernized?

- The function of the Vietnam People's Army is to defend the country, revolutionary achievements and maintain a peaceful environment for people to live and to develop the country. We modernize the army to cope with and defeat invaders, not to invade others.

However, to defend the environment of peace in the present context, the army should have general power. Modernizing the army, thus, is expressed on various aspects such as the modernization of weapons, training high-quality human resources and organizing combat training for soldiers.

Currently, science, technology and weapons rapidly develop so the soldiers who use modern weapons must be equipped with good knowledge and satisfy required capacity and qualifications. Vietnam is also working on the construction and development of modern military doctrine, as well as research and investment to manufacture modern military weapons in order to reduce weapon imports. It is a comprehensive strategy with vision for decades.

As you have said, improving the quality of human resources is very important, so how is this duty performed?

- Modernizing the military is carried out comprehensively, in all areas but the development of human resources is the most important. It will be ineffective if we have modern weapons and the users are unable to take full advantage of the weapons.

We have been building and developing the system of military academies, combined with the system of advanced civilian schools to train highly qualified human resources, qualified to receive and use modern weapons. In addition, the state also sends personnel to foreign schools for training, in order to help people master the equipment.

Submarine Kilo 184 Hai Phong.

- In addition to traditional sources of weapons from the former Soviet Union in the past and now Russia, which countries are Vietnam cooperating with to manufacture and purchase weapons from?

- Due to the matter of history, most weapons and military equipment of Vietnam are largely imported from the Soviet Union, later the Russian Federation and CIS countries. The world today is an open world so the viewpoint on foreign affairs of the party, state and army is extension, integration and multilateral relations.

Therefore, to modernize the army, in addition to Russia, Vietnam also imports weapons from other countries, based on the principles of reliability, conforming to international law, non harmful to the third party and affordable prices. That is the law of the market economy. The good, cheap products will sell well.

We also have cooperation with Russia and other countries on technology transfer. Vietnam will rely on modern technology from other countries to manufacture weapons.

- Weapons and ammunition obtained in the war against America are still being used. What is the role of these weapons in the military resources of Vietnam?

- After 40 years, the volume of these weapons and ammunition is now very limited. In principle, we will gradually discard these types of weapons and ammunition.

VNE