Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Chí Vịnh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, introduces the white paper. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The 2019 White Paper on Việt Nam National Defence highlights peace and self-defence as basic principles of the country’s defence policy.

At the launching ceremony for the paper in Hà Nội on Monday, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Chí Vịnh said the paper defines Việt Nam’s viewpoint on national safeguarding.

“Việt Nam respects independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and benefits of all nations in accordance with international law, and the country persistently struggles and settles all disputes via peaceful means based on international law, while carrying out necessary defence measures when its sovereignty, territory and national benefits are threatened,” he said.

According to Vịnh, the paper affirms the Communist Party of Việt Nam’s leadership in the national defence cause and provides basic contents on the organisational structure of the Ministry of Defence, orientations to build the people’s army and militia, and transparency of the defence policy and Việt Nam’s defence capacity.

“The contents aim to enhance trust and understanding between Việt Nam and other countries around the world, while boosting co-operation to settle emerging security challenges for peace, stability and development,” he said.

The paper, published in Vietnamese and English, features three main parts, namely strategic context and national defence policy, building the all-people national defence, and people’s army and militia.

This is the fourth document of its kind so far. The previous papers were released in 1998, 2004 and 2009. — VNS