Vietnam, US beef up cooperation in settling post-war consequences

During their meeting in Hanoi on September 26, the ambassador lauded the two countries’ collaboration in UN peacekeeping operations, especially in training. 

He agreed to step up bilateral ties in the defence industry, expressing his hope that it will expand towards a trio-partnership. 

The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern. 

Over the years, post-war matters such as Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin and bombs and mines have received much attention from the Vietnamese and US governments and peoples.

From 1961-1971, US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides - 44 million litres of which were AO, containing nearly 370 kilograms of dioxin - over southern Vietnam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the chemicals.

Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich informed US Secretary of Defence James Mattis during their talks in Washington in August 2017 that two sides have concluded the first stage of the Da Nang airport remediation project and are embarking on the second stage to serve the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2017. 

They are also conducting studies to launch a similar project at Bien Hoa airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, he said.