At the 14th National Party Congress, Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang delivered a powerful message: Vietnam must never be caught off guard on strategic matters but must act preemptively - turning challenges into opportunities to propel national development.

Presenting his report, the Minister noted that the implementation of the 13th Congress's resolutions had led to significant progress in the public security sector.

From the outset of the term, the Central Public Security Party Committee led the People’s Public Security forces with a spirit of accountability, bold thinking, innovation, and a willingness to shoulder responsibility for the common good. They took the lead in streamlining organizational structures, deploying regular police to commune-level posts, eliminating district-level police units, and steering the national digital transformation. A landmark achievement was the creation of the National Population Database.

National security has been maintained, with Vietnam remaining among the world’s safest nations. Potentially complex issues and key hostile targets have been identified and tackled proactively - early, remotely, and even beyond national borders. Public order is stable, society is disciplined and safe, and citizens enjoy a more peaceful and secure life.

Crimes, legal violations, traffic accidents, and fires have all been brought under control. The Public Security forces continue to crack down uncompromisingly on all forms of crime, especially corruption, wastefulness, and drug offenses.

Over the term, the People’s Public Security forces have undergone a remarkable transformation - growing stronger and more capable. They are now essentially “truly clean, strong, regular, elite, and modern,” living up to their role as the “protective shield” and “sword” defending the Party, State, people, and the socialist system.

Preserving Vietnam’s global position in safety and security

Looking ahead, Minister Luong Tam Quang warned that, despite opportunities, the four risks previously identified by the Party remain and in some areas have intensified, emerging in new forms. The mission of national construction and defense now faces four major challenges.

First is the challenge of timely understanding and responding to global trends and shifts, ensuring prompt leadership decisions to navigate internal and external affairs, development and security, risks and opportunities. The pressure to “choose sides” or align politically, economically, diplomatically, militarily, and technologically is increasing.

Second is the need to recognize and secure new domains, spaces, and entities; to swiftly detect and mitigate emerging security risks and threats stemming from rapid advances in science and technology, Vietnam’s elevated position after 40 years of renovation, and the adoption of new development thinking.

Third is meeting the people’s rising expectations for Vietnam’s growth in the new era, and successfully implementing the 14th Congress resolutions and strategic Party directives.

Fourth is the challenge of fulfilling socialism’s promises - ensuring social welfare, eradicating poverty, and enhancing quality of life for all citizens.

In this context, the Public Security sector is committed to advancing the Party’s three strategic goals: peace and stability, high-quality sustainable development, and improved living standards.

The Minister emphasized a transformation in mindset: from merely “executing official duties” to “serving the public,” and from “command and compliance” to “command, compliance, and initiative in proposing and shaping development.”

“Our mission is not only to safeguard national security from the earliest signs of danger and prevent conflict before it arises. More importantly, we must ensure Vietnam is never caught off guard, but always ready - proactively advancing, transforming challenges into momentum for national growth, bolstering our security capacity, and contributing to peace and stability both regionally and globally,” General Quang stressed.

The Public Security forces aim to maintain Vietnam’s ranking among the world’s most secure and safe nations. Their mission includes building a society that is orderly, disciplined, safe, and healthy - for the peaceful and happy lives of the people.

They will intensify efforts to protect political regime security, cultural and ideological security, economic security, cybersecurity, and data security. Safeguarding high-level leaders, strategic officials, and intellectual elites in science and technology will be key priorities.

All potential factors threatening security and public order must be addressed thoroughly, leaving no room for strategic surprises.

General Quang highlighted the importance of proactively identifying new fields and spaces for security protection, adapting to new criminal tactics and methods, and aiming to make 50% of communes nationwide drug-free - eventually striving for crime-free localities in 18 provinces.

The People’s Public Security forces will continue leading the national digital transformation, creating the infrastructure for borderless administrative procedures, establishing digital trust, building a digital society and digital citizenship, and advancing the digital economy, data economy, and data-driven industries.

He also emphasized building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern police force - defined by being “the most disciplined, the most loyal, the closest to the people,” and taking the lead in promoting social welfare and strengthening people’s trust.

“We must train a cadre of officials and Party members with steel-like discipline, firm political bravery, professional excellence in law, technology and human values - and above all, deep closeness to the people,” the Minister stated.

Another key area is fostering breakthroughs in the self-reliant and modern development of the domestic security industry. Based on lessons from securing public order and cybersecurity during digital transformation, Vietnam aims to research, develop, and independently produce core technologies, products, and services for the security sector.

This would reduce reliance on imports, meet domestic needs, and potentially open up export opportunities - all while strengthening Vietnam’s technological sovereignty in national security.

Huong Quynh - Tran Thuong