Circular No. 170/2004/TT-BQP guiding the implementation of Decree No. 119/2004/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2004 of the Government on defense work in Ministries, agencies at the level of Ministries, government agencies, and localities.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Decree No. 119/2004/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2004 of the Government on Defense Work in Ministries, Agencies Equivalent to Ministries, Government Agencies, and Localities

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On May 11, 2004, the Government issued Decree No. 119/2004/NĐ-CP on defense work in ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and localities (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 119/CP; ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and localities are collectively referred to as ministries, sectors, and localities).

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 22 of Decree No. 119/CP, the Ministry of National Defense guides the implementation of the following main contents:

I. TASKS AND LIMITATIONS OF MINISTRIES AND SECTORS IN DEFENSE WORK

1. Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Direct and organize nationwide defense education (DE) propaganda and implement DE for cadres, civil servants, and workers under the management of ministries and sectors; coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to implement national defense knowledge (NDK) training for cadres and civil servants according to the provisions of the law." To implement the above contents and tasks, ministries and sectors need to carry out the following tasks:

1.1. Direct the implementation of propaganda and education for cadres, civil servants, and workers under the management of ministries and sectors through appropriate forms, methods, and contents suitable to the characteristics and nature of activities, production, and business operations of each agency and unit, aiming to enhance their correct understanding of the plots and tactics of hostile forces, raise their vigilance and responsibility towards the mission of building and defending the country at their own agencies, units, and enterprises.

1.2. Based on the content, program, and textbook of DE and NDK training issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the National Academy of Political Science, and the National Academy of Public Administration, each ministry and sector and each level shall develop plans, determine contents, forms, and ensure the effective implementation of DE and NDK training tasks.

1.3. Properly implement the allocation and assignment of key cadres at all levels to study DE courses and undergo NDK training according to the分级任务袯

1.3. Properly implement the allocation and assignment of key cadres at all levels to study DE courses and undergo NDK training according to the classification and regulations of the Government.

2. Clause 2, Article 4 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Closely combine economic and social development with enhanced national defense and security. Plan and implement the mobilization of resources from ministries and sectors to be ready to meet the requirements of socialist homeland protection in all situations." To fulfill this task, ministries and sectors need to carry out the following tasks:

2.1. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to evaluate, plan, and develop economic and social plans that integrate with national defense in strategic regions, and develop plans for mobilizing the national economy to meet national defense requirements in various scenarios. In the economic and social planning of each sector, it must be linked to the requirements of building and accumulating potential for national defense within the scope of the sector's functions and fields.

2.2. Implement annual and emergency plans and needs for national defense allocated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, supervise and inspect the implementation at the grassroots level regarding human resources, materials, equipment, transportation, training of specialized technical personnel for the military, design and organization of production of products serving national defense.

2.3. Direct the development and implementation of specialized mobilization plans for the national economy according to the targets and tasks assigned by the Government. These plans must meet the national defense requirements for manpower, material, and means of transport as prescribed, ensuring the minimum needs of the people during war, quickly transitioning the economy from peacetime to emergency or wartime in an organized and planned manner, minimizing losses caused by the enemy to the lowest extent possible.

3. Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and sectors to build a comprehensive national defense system, a comprehensive national defense posture; build strong grassroots organizations comprehensively, contributing to building provinces and cities into solid defensive zones (DZ)." To fulfill these tasks, ministries and sectors need to coordinate and guide the implementation of the following contents:

3.1. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and sectors to guide provincial and municipal People's Committees in building DZs, integrating economy with national defense, developing Plan B, mobilization plans, and preparing local logistics and technical support; direct specialized exercises on national defense and security (NS) and participate in joint exercises with other departments and sectors as directed by the People's Committees at all levels.

3.2. Direct agencies and units under the management of ministries and sectors to participate with military regions and localities in building strong grassroots organizations, constructing postures and comprehensive national defense (CND) systems, especially in key and weak areas.

3.3. Resolve recommendations from provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government regarding issues related to the functions and responsibilities of the sector and field.

3.4. Coordinate with provincial and municipal People's Committees and local military authorities (LMA) to organize inspections and urge guidance to agencies and units under the management of ministries and sectors in localities to implement the task of building provinces and cities into solid defensive zones.

4. Clause 4, Article 4 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Direct agencies and units under the management of ministries and sectors to cooperate with local military authorities in organizing and conducting training and activities of self-defense forces, managing and mobilizing reserve forces, recruiting soldiers, and participating in building local armed forces. Implement civil defense work, industrial mobilization, and mobilize the scientific and technological potential of the state for national defense work." To fulfill these tasks, ministries and sectors need to focus on implementing the following tasks:

4.2. Closely coordinate with local military agencies and military units receiving sources to register, manage conscription-ready resources; implement tasks related to conscript selection and call-up; arrange and compile; manage reserve personnel according to the Ordinance on Mobilization Reserve (MR).

4.3. Based on the mobilization targets set by the Government regarding means and equipment, and the construction of specialized reserve units, establish plans for mobilization within their sector, organize the implementation of such plans; guide and monitor subordinate units in fulfilling tasks according to allocated targets.

4.4. Organize and mobilize forces to perform civil defense work at local and grassroots levels, particularly in disaster prevention and mitigation, enemy attacks, fire control, rescue operations.

4.5. Organize research and application of scientific and technological achievements and mobilize the scientific and technological potential of the sector to ensure both economic and social development tasks and readiness to meet national defense requirements when necessary.

5. Article 5, Clause 5 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Implement state regulations on budget guarantees for the consolidation of national defense and the building of people's armed forces; implement military rear policies and other relevant policies concerning national defense work." To effectively fulfill these tasks, ministries and sectors need to implement the following actions:

5.1. Direct the establishment, execution, and settlement of the annual budget guaranteeing national defense and military work of the ministry or sector according to the State Budget Law and guiding documents.

5.2. Within the scope of their functions, study and propose participation in the state's issuance of economic and social policies related to national defense consolidation and the building of people's armed forces.

5.3. Monitor and urge subordinate agencies and units to implement policies on national defense consolidation, armed force construction, military rear policies, policies towards self-defense forces, and other relevant policies concerning national defense and military tasks as prescribed by law.

6. Article 6, Clause 6 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Coordinate with competent agencies of the Ministry of National Defense annually and during each period to conduct inspections, audits, mid-term reviews, and final summaries of the implementation of national defense tasks." To fulfill this task, ministries and sectors need to coordinate in implementing the following actions:

6.1. Based on the annual inspection plan of the Government Inspectorate and the Defense Inspectorate regarding the implementation of national defense work, heads of ministries and sectors direct relevant agencies or dedicated staff responsible for national defense work and their inspectorates to develop plans, proactively coordinate to organize inspections of the implementation of national defense work annually and during each period according to the established plan.

6.2. Agencies and staff responsible for national defense work in ministries and sectors propose to leadership to direct and organize the implementation of national defense tasks and closely monitor the implementation results in subordinate agencies and units to ensure thorough and effective inspections and audits.

6.3. Annually, the Defense Inspectorate leads coordination with relevant agencies of the Ministry of National Defense to develop plans and organize inspections and audits of national defense work in ministries, sectors, and localities within their functional scope, duties, and authorities.

6.4. Based on guidance from the Ministry of National Defense, ministries and sectors organize mid-term reviews and final summaries to evaluate the results of national defense work; in annual performance reports, there must be content evaluating the results of national defense tasks.

II. TASKS AND AUTHORITY OF LOCALITIES IN NATIONAL DEFENSE WORK

1. Article 5, Clause 1 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Organize propaganda and comprehensive national defense education and implement comprehensive national defense education, enhance military knowledge for cadres at all levels, and provide national defense education for students and trainees according to legal provisions." To effectively fulfill these tasks, localities need to implement the following tasks:

1.1. Direct and implement thoroughly Directive No. 62/CT-TW dated February 12, 2001 of the Party Central Committee and Decree No. 15/2001/NĐ-CP dated May 1, 2001 of the Government on national defense education. Comprehensive national defense education in localities should be conducted through various practical, rich, and effective forms suitable for different target groups and specific characteristics of the locality. It is necessary to combine and effectively utilize mass media; organize cultural, artistic, scientific seminar, and sports activities to educate, especially on holidays, anniversaries, and activities of organizations.

Regarding organizational work, under the direction of the provincial party committee (city party committee), the management of the People's Council and the National Defense Education Council, military agencies at all levels must closely coordinate with departments, organizations, especially cultural information and propaganda agencies, to unify content, methods, and approaches to improve the quality of comprehensive national defense education.

1.2. The People's Councils of provinces and centrally-administered cities direct the Department of Education and Training to lead coordination with provincial military agencies to strictly implement the national defense education curriculum in secondary schools; coordinate with ministries and sectors to provide national defense education for students and trainees in universities, colleges, and vocational training institutions in their areas. Coordinate with military units stationed in the locality to assist schools in implementing the national defense education curriculum.

Direct local military agencies to coordinate with agencies and organizations to send cadres under their management to participate in military knowledge enhancement courses organized by higher-level agencies. People's Councils at all levels strictly direct the enhancement of military knowledge for cadres according to their level of authority.

1.3. Maintain the discipline and enhance the effectiveness of the National Defense Education Council's operations at all local levels to enable this organization to fully play its advisory and consultative role for the People's Committee at the same level regarding national defense work.

2. Clause 2 of Article 5 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Direct the implementation of the integration of economic, cultural, social development, foreign relations with national defense and security; link national defense with security; national defense and security with economy, and build a solid political foundation comprehensively as the core to construct a strong defensive area; manage and protect military works, rear bases, and military areas in the locality," to fulfill these tasks, localities must focus on integration and direct the implementation of the following tasks:

2.1. When developing projects on economic and social development (short-term, medium-term, or long-term), departments and sectors at the local level must exchange and reach consensus with the same-level military agency to ensure that the projects meet both requirements for economic and social development and those for consolidating national defense and constructing a defensive area. When appraising projects related to the military and national defense fields, the People's Committee needs to seek opinions from the same-level military agency and obtain opinions from the higher-level military agency according to the law. In directing and managing, the military agency must implement the Regulation on the Integration of National Defense with Economic and Social Development as per Decision No. 285/2003/QĐ-BQP dated January 28, 2003, of the Minister of National Defense.

2.2. Direct the construction and timely adjustment and supplementation of plans ensuring economic and social activities for the first year of war of various departments and sectors (Plan B) based on the determination of defense of the military agency. The determinations and combat plans of the military agency also need to be adjusted and supplemented promptly based on new developments in economic and social conditions of their locality.

2.3. At all levels, the People's Committees direct the military and police agencies in linking military activities with activities to maintain internal security and social order and safety at the grassroots level, ensuring the proper performance of functions and tasks of each force.

2.4. Direct the comprehensive construction of a defensive area in terms of politics, economy, culture, society, and national defense and security. Continuously care for building a solid foundation comprehensively according to Directive No. 58/TTg dated February 15, 1993, of the Prime Minister, serving as the basis and condition for constructing defensive areas in localities with depth and increasing solidity.

3. Clause 3 of Article 5 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Implement measures for the construction and protection of local defense potential, the construction of local armed forces, the construction of the people's defense posture combined with the people's security posture within the defensive area; mobilize the national economy to meet the requirements of local and national defense tasks in all situations," to fulfill these tasks, local People's Committees and military agencies at all levels need to implement the following tasks:

3.1. At all levels, the People's Committees direct the construction and continuous strengthening of military potential and protect such potentials to be ready for mobilization when situations arise.

3.2. Direct the planning and investment agency to cooperate with the military agency and relevant sectors to construct and promptly adjust and supplement plans when there is an emergency or the locality transitions from peacetime to wartime.

4. Clause 4 of Article 5 of Decree 119/CP stipulates: "Direct and organize the construction, training, and assurance of combat operations of Local Troops, Self-Defense Militia, and Reserve Mobilization Forces; implement conscription and mobilization according to the law," to fulfill these tasks, localities must implement the following tasks:

4.1. Focus on reinforcing and building local military agencies and Border Defense Units solidly in all aspects; especially the capacity to advise Party committees, authorities, and organizations in implementing local national defense and military work and commanding the Armed Forces under their jurisdiction in building readiness and combat; local military agencies must take the lead and coordinate with various departments, sectors, and mass organizations to advise Party committees and authorities at all levels in building a nationwide defense and the people's defense posture in the locality.

4.2. Build Border Defense Units "Revolutionary, Regular, Elite, and Gradually Modern" to successfully counter any situation occurring in the area and serve as the core for developing forces when the locality transitions to states of readiness.

4.3. Build a strong and widespread Self-Defense Militia Force.

4.3.1. Localities need to direct the thorough implementation of Directive No. 16/CT-TW dated October 5, 2002, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Term IX) on strengthening the Party's leadership over the Self-Defense Militia and Reserve Forces in the new situation. Emphasize political education and measures to improve the quality of political education for the Self-Defense Militia; strengthen the leadership and direction of grassroots Party committees and authorities over the Self-Defense Militia work; consolidate and improve the cadre team of village defense units and the People's Committee for Defense and Security at various agencies and organizations according to the Law on the Self-Defense Militia. Continue to study and build Self-Defense Militia in non-state-owned enterprises, particularly joint-stock companies and enterprises with foreign investment. Pay attention to building the Self-Defense Militia in border, island, remote, and key inland areas.

4.3.2. Direct the training of cadres and political education, military training for the Self-Defense Militia according to the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

4.3.3. Improve the quality of handling situations in accordance with functions and responsibilities effectively. Strictly maintain the state of readiness according to the directives and orders on readiness issued by the Ministry of National Defense, especially the Self-Defense Militia along borders, seas, islands, and facilities with complex political security and social order situations.

4.4. Regarding the recruitment and call-up of citizens for military service:

4.4.1. Conduct extensive education and propaganda among the people and youth about the Law on Military Service and the responsibilities and obligations of citizens in implementing the Law on Military Service.

4.4.2. Direct and implement the registration and statistics of sources ready for enlistment.

4.4.3. Direct and implement effectively the work of selecting and calling up citizens for military service.

4.4.4. Direct and organize the delivery of troops in accordance with the law, ensuring sufficient quantity, high quality, on time, safely, and economically.

4.4.5. Summarize and conclude after each period and annually regarding the work of selecting and calling up citizens for military service.

4.5. On mobilization work.

4.5.1. Propagate and educate to enhance awareness and responsibility of all levels and sectors towards the mobilization work of the armed forces and industrial mobilization as prescribed by the Mobilization Law, the Law on Civil Defense, and guiding documents for implementation.

4.5.2. Organize and direct the registration and management of mobilization resources. Develop plans for building and mobilizing civil defense forces according to the Prime Minister's Decision.

4.5.3. Organize training, exercises, and inspections of combat readiness levels for civil defense units under local management. Transfer reserve personnel to military units. Conduct political education and organize training and exercises according to plans for civil defense forces.

4.5.4. Ensure logistical support, technical equipment, and financial resources for the construction of civil defense forces.

4.5.5. Organize and direct surveys, develop plans for civil defense mobilization; direct the completion of production and repair chains and manage maintenance of these chains. Organize training, exercises for civil defense mobilization and professional training for labor sources.

4.5.6. Prepare necessary conditions to be ready to mobilize civil defense forces and industrial mobilization.

4.5.7. Implement measures to mobilize civil defense forces, industrial mobilization, and technical means to serve mobilization when ordered.

4.5.8. Summarize and conclude after each period of mobilization work and annually regarding the mobilization of the armed forces.

4.6. For discharged servicemen:

Implement the reception, registration into the reserve force source, prioritizing vocational training and job placement according to government regulations.

5. Clause 5, Article 5 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Direct local militia, self-defense forces, and reserve mobilization forces to cooperate with border guards, coast guard, public security forces, and other forces to maintain political security, social order, and safety, carry out mass mobilization work, and organize forces to perform civil defense tasks at the local level," to implement the above tasks, local authorities and People's Armed Forces Departments at all levels need to focus on directing the following contents:

5.1. Direct the armed forces under their command to closely coordinate with public security forces to perform the task of maintaining political security and social order and safety at the local and grassroots levels according to Decision No. 107/2003/QĐ-TTg dated June 2, 2003 of the Prime Minister on the cooperation mechanism between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense to implement national security protection and social order and safety tasks in new circumstances and guiding circulars attached thereto.

5.2. Direct the armed forces to participate in mass mobilization work, build strong comprehensive grassroots organizations according to the directives of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense.

5.3. Direct the planning and mobilization of local armed forces to effectively implement Decree No. 65/2002/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2002 of the Government on civil air defense work and tasks of preventing and mitigating natural disasters and serious accidents occurring in the locality.

6. Clause 6, Article 5 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Implement the task of building and ensuring local logistics, ensuring the budget for local defense work. Implement all policies and laws on consolidating national defense, building the people's armed forces, militia, and reserve mobilization forces as prescribed by law. Implement the policy of the rear of the armed forces, mobilizing human and material resources from the locality for the cause of building and defending the country," to implement the above tasks, localities need to focus on implementing the following contents:

6.1. Build organizational systems and ensure local logistics and civilian logistics to meet the needs of the armed forces in various situations. Ensure the budget for local defense work according to the State Budget Law. The preparation, execution, and settlement of the budget for local defense work shall be carried out according to Decree No. 10/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 7, 2004 of the Government on managing and using the state budget and assets for certain activities in the field of national defense and security and related guiding documents.

6.2. Organize the dissemination and direct the implementation of all policies, laws on consolidating national defense, building the armed forces; implement the policy of the rear of the armed forces, policies for militia and reserve mobilization forces as prescribed by law.

The Finance Department together with relevant agencies assist the Ministry of National Defense to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government for adjustment and support for local defense work in key mountainous provinces, remote areas, and economically disadvantaged regions that have not yet balanced their budgets to meet defense spending requirements.

7. Clause 7, Article 5 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Implement inspection, supervision, summary, and conclusion on local defense work annually and during each period," to implement this task, localities need to direct the implementation of the following contents:

7.1. Local People's Committees at all levels direct the inspection and supervision of defense work by departments and localities under their jurisdiction. Direct the military offices at the same level to report on the implementation of defense and military tasks according to their own People's Committee working regulations.

7.2. Provincial (city) defense inspectors assist Military Command Headquarters to organize inspections of the implementation of defense tasks in localities and departments within their management scope, and report to the provincial (city) State Inspectorate according to regulations.

County-level State Inspectors coordinate with the same-level military offices to conduct inspections of the implementation of local defense work according to decisions of the same-level People's Committee Chairmen.

7.4. Annually, at all levels, People's Committees conduct mid-year reviews and year-end summaries on the implementation of national defense work in their respective localities and report the results to higher-level People's Committees. The summary of national defense work during each period by People's Committees at all levels shall be carried out in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister, guidelines from the Ministry of National Defense, and the Military Region Command.

III. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS IN WORK BETWEEN MINISTRIES, SECTORS, AND LOCALITIES REGARDING NATIONAL DEFENSE WORK

1. Clause 1 of Article 6 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "Organization of agencies and personnel for national defense work"

The improvement of the system of agencies and dedicated personnel, including those concurrently holding positions, for national defense work in ministries, sectors, and localities shall be implemented in accordance with the joint Circular issued by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Home Affairs. In this Circular, the following points are clarified:

1.1. The decision to assign officers on temporary duty, the transfer, and reception of temporarily assigned officers shall be carried out in accordance with Articles 6, 7, and 8 of Decree No. 165/2003/NĐ-CP dated December 22, 2003, of the Government regarding the assignment of officers of the Vietnam People's Army on temporary duty.

1.2. The monitoring and summarization of national defense work in ministries, sectors, and localities shall be handled by the permanent office of the Ministry of National Defense. The functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the permanent office of the Ministry of National Defense shall be proposed by the General Staff Department for consideration and decision by the Ministry of National Defense.

1.3. The organization of Military Command Departments in ministries, sectors, and organizations shall be carried out in accordance with the Self-Defense Militia Ordinance (No. 19/PL-UBTVQH11 dated April 29, 2004, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly) and related implementing regulations.

2. Article 7 and Article 8 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulate: "Relationships among Ministries, Sectors, and Localities concerning National Defense Work," to implement these relationships, it is required that Ministries, Sectors, and Localities resolve the following relationships well:

2.1. Annually, the Ministry of National Defense issues directives and guiding documents for the implementation of national defense work by ministries, sectors, and localities to ensure unified guidance in implementation. Based on the directives and guidance of the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Region Command, the national defense work agencies in ministries and military departments at various levels assist leadership in thoroughly understanding and organizing the implementation of national defense tasks in their respective localities and organizations. Based on the directives and guidance of the Ministry of National Defense, the heads of agencies or personnel responsible for national defense work advise leadership in issuing relevant documents and implementing national defense tasks within their ministries and sectors.

2.2. Quarterly, the Ministry of National Defense organizes meetings to exchange information and grasp the implementation of national defense work in some ministries and sectors. The permanent office of the Ministry of National Defense is responsible for coordinating the specific timeframes for these quarterly meetings. Every six months and annually, central ministries and sectors must compile and submit the results of their national defense task implementation to the Ministry of National Defense (through the permanent office, which is the Civil Defense Mobilization Bureau of the General Staff Department) for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

2.3. Local military agencies at all levels (provincial, district, and commune) must continuously monitor and firmly grasp the guidance and organization of national defense work in their localities; they also serve as the main coordinating body working with other agencies, bureaus, departments, and mass organizations to provide advice and proposals to party committees and governments at all levels in leading and directing national defense work in their respective localities according to their functional responsibilities.

2.4. Annually, provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees must submit written reports on the results of national defense work in their provinces (cities) to the Ministry of National Defense (through the permanent office of the Ministry of National Defense) for consolidation and reporting to the Government, while simultaneously sending them to the Military Region Commands for monitoring and direction.

2.5. Based on the economic and social development situation and national defense tasks in each period, the Ministry of National Defense will report to the Government to convene a national conference on national defense work or to summarize certain topics on national defense work in ministries, sectors, and localities according to plans by the Ministry of National Defense and the Government.

3. Article 9 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates on: "Relationships between Military Region Commands and local military agencies with People's Committees at all levels," to resolve these work relationships, it is required that military regions and localities implement the following contents:

3.1. Based on national defense requirements (according to directives, orders, plans, and guidelines from the Ministry of National Defense) and the actual situation in localities, Military Region Commands must organize annual joint conferences with key cadres from provinces and cities within their regions to evaluate the results of leadership and direction in local national defense and military work, and to convey and implement next year's tasks; the composition, content, timing, and methods of organizing and implementing national defense tasks shall be determined by the Military Region Command.

3.2. Based on the actual situation and the guidance of the military region on national defense and military tasks annually, provincial (city) People's Committees must convene meetings with leaders of departments and districts, towns, and cities under their jurisdiction to evaluate the results of national defense work and to deploy next year's national defense tasks.

3.3. Annually, local military agencies at all levels assist their respective People's Committees in evaluating the results of national defense work in their areas and proposing next year's national defense tasks to their People's Committees and superior military agencies. For important matters directly related to national defense and military work (such as infrastructure construction projects in critical defense zones, combat bases, rear bases as determined by superiors in the defense resolution; the use of local troops, self-defense forces, and militia when there are complex security situations or emergencies...), People's Committees at all levels must reach consensus with superior military agencies before recommending to the Military Region Command, the Ministry of National Defense, or the Government (for matters exceeding the authority of direct superior military agencies).

IV. STATE MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE WORK

Article 11, 12, and Article 13 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulates: "The responsibility of the Heads of Ministries, sectors, and the Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels to fulfill their responsibilities for national defense work." It requires Ministries, sectors, and localities to direct the implementation of the following contents:

1. The heads of Ministries, sectors, and other organizations, in addition to directing the effective implementation of national defense work within their Ministries, sectors, and organizations, are responsible for directing, urging, and inspecting subordinate agencies and units under their authority in localities to implement national defense tasks related to those localities; while monitoring and grasping the situation and results of national defense work of agencies and units under their management sector. Timely identify and propose to the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense issues that need to be revised and supplemented to be consistent with practical circumstances, ensuring the completion of sectoral tasks to meet national defense requirements of Ministries, sectors, and localities.

2. Military Region Commanders have the responsibility to assist the Ministry of National Defense in managing state affairs on national defense in localities within their military regions, guiding People's Committees in military regions to unify contents, policies, and measures to implement national defense work according to the six aspects of state management of national defense work prescribed in Article 10 of Decree No. 119/CP of the Government.

3. Local military agencies at provincial, district, and commune levels (provincial military commands, district military commands, and commune military commands) are the main centers coordinating with relevant agencies and sectors to advise and propose to the People's Councils and People's Committees at the same level to build and issue directives to implement local national defense work as prescribed by law. In addition to their primary functions of directing, commanding, organizing construction, training, and combat readiness of local armed forces under their authority, they also have the responsibility to coordinate with relevant agencies and mass organizations to advise and assist the Chairpersons of People's Committees at the same level in directing the implementation of national defense work and state management of national defense work in localities.

4. People's Committees at all levels shall fulfill their responsibilities for state management of national defense in their respective localities as prescribed in Article 13 of Decree No. 119/CP.

V. NATIONAL DEFENSE WORK SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND POLICIES IMPLEMENTATION

Articles 16, 17, and 18 of Decree No. 119/CP stipulate the matters concerning: "Ensuring the budget for national defense work; preparing, implementing, and settling the budget and systems and policies for implementing national defense work." These provisions shall be implemented in accordance with the joint Circular issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Specifically, the matter of ensuring funding and policies for militia and self-defense force work shall be carried out in accordance with the Militia and Self-Defense Force Law and accompanying guiding documents.

VI. ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. The above guidance outlines only the basic and main issues related to national defense work in Ministries, sectors, and localities. During the implementation process, based on the characteristics of each Ministry, sector, and locality, it is necessary to study and apply them in a way that closely aligns with the practical conditions of the locality and grassroots level.

2. The General Staff shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies of the Ministry of National Defense to research and propose to the Ministry of National Defense regulations on the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the permanent body assisting the Ministry of National Defense in overseeing and directing national defense work in Ministries, sectors, and localities; agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense shall direct the implementation of national defense work in Ministries, sectors, and localities as prescribed in Decree No. 119/CP according to the division of labor by the Ministry of National Defense.

3. Annually and during each period, the National Defense Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense shall develop plans and assist the Ministry in organizing inspections of the results of national defense work in Ministries, sectors, and localities, promptly correcting and addressing deficiencies and shortcomings to enhance the effectiveness of state management over national defense and bring national defense work in Ministries, sectors, and localities into a regular routine.

4. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and replace Circular No. 1915/QP-TT dated October 11, 1994, of the Ministry of National Defense guiding the implementation of Decree No. 19/CP dated March 12, 1994, of the Government on national defense work in Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, and localities.

The Heads of Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, the Heads of General Departments, relevant functional agencies of the Ministry of National Defense, Commanders of Military Regions, Services, Arms, and local military agencies at all levels shall be responsible for implementing this Circular. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or obstacles, they must report them promptly to the Ministry of National Defense for appropriate guidance and resolution.