Addressing a ceremony to open the new school year at the Academy on Friday, Chairwoman Ngan emphasized new requirements for national defense and security: “In the near future, the Academy needs to make greater effort in training a contingent of high-level cadres of the Party and State, and the armed forces and in giving recommendations on strategic issues related to safeguarding the socialist Vietnam, particularly the principles of keeping the Party’s direct and absolute leadership. We should be consistently pursue national independence combined with socialism and maintain peace for socio-economic development, which are the country’s top interests.”

The top legislator called on the National Defense Academy to thoroughly study the Party’s resolutions and instructions, particularly the resolutions of the 12^th National Party Congress and Resolution 28 on a strategy to defend the fatherland in the new period. Ms Ngan said: “The Academy needs to constantly reform its training to keep abreast with the world situation and update theories on modern military science. Achievements of the 4^th Industrial Revolution and advanced education methods should be applied.”