President reiterates Vietnam’s policy against nuclear weapons

Vietnam has always been consistent with its anti-nuclear weapons policy and was one of the first countries to support, sign and ratify the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), President Tran Dai Quang wrote in his greeting message on July 31 to the 63^rd World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs.

A ceremony commemorates the day the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. (Photo: EPA/VNA)

The President sent his best wishes to delegates who will participate in the conference in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 2-10.

Over the past 63 years since the first world conference against atomic and hydrogen bombs was held in 1955 – 10 years after the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the peace movement worldwide has made unceasing efforts to fight nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, he said.

These efforts have produced significant outcomes and contributed to the birth of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or NPT in 1968 and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty in 2017, he added.

Most recently in 2018, the Inter-Korean Summit and the summit between the US and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) opened up positive prospects to address nuclear issues in the Korean peninsula, President Quang stressed.

Bearing serious consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin on the human and environment, Vietnamese people understand the dire consequences of weapons of mass destruction, he said.

“We have high expectations of the strong development of the world peace movements to protest and abolish nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction”, he wrote.

This year’s conference is an occasion for global peace forces and organisations to launch new activities against nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, continuing to affirm solidarity and support for victims of atomic weapons, victims of Agent Orange and victims of other war crimes, for a world of peace, security, stability and sustainable development, he said.

In his message, President Quang expressed his deep gratitude for the effective assistance the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs has provided for Vietnam in the cause of national liberation, reunification, building and development./.

VNF/VNA