Over 27 trillion dong, equivalent to 1.8 percent of Vietnam’s GDP was allocated to national defense in 2008, according to the Ministry of Defense’s White Book, released on December 8.

The book in Vietnamese and English.

This is the third time the country has published its White Book on National Defense. The two other times being 1998 and 2004.

At a press conference on December 8, Lieutenant-general Nguyen Chi Vinh, deputy minister of Defense, said that the National Defense Book 2009 expresses fundamental points of view on Vietnam’s national defense policy, and defense management mechanism

It also covers the structure of the Ministry of Defense, the organization and development of the Vietnam People’s Army and civil defense forces.

The book also describes the cooperation policy in defense, showing Vietnam’s desire to improve mutual-understanding and mutual-trust between the Vietnamese arm, the Vietnamese people and the armies and people of other countries.

The White Book outlines the current situation in the world regarding regional and national security and the challenges ahead for Vietnam’s defense. It emphasizes a trend of peace and cooperation in international relations.

Lieutenant-general Nguyen Chi Vinh introduced the book at a press conference on Dec. 8.

According to the White Book, total number of permanent soldiers is 450,000 people.

The book also provides information about the structure of National Defense and arms incuding major changes in defense in the last five years.

For the first time Vietnam’s defense cooperation policy is divided into specific categories, including anti-terrorism and Vietnam’s participation in the United Nation’s peace-keeping activities including search and rescue maneuvers.

The book’s appendix supplies useful information about Vietnam’s overseas military attaches, major institutes and schools of the army, economic-defense zones, the list of the army’s corporations and agreements on border and territory.

PV