Vietnam and US cooperate to overcome consequences of war

VNF - The treatment of toxic chemicals remained at the Da Nang airport is an evidence showing the US attaches importance to relations with Vietnam.

On October 17 in Da Nang city, Vietnam Ministry of Defense delegation led by Maj. Gen Bui Anh Chung, Deputy Commander of the Air Defense Forces, had a working session on the remediation of war consequences with the US Senate delegation led by Representative Ted Yoho, Chair of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the United States Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations.

According to the survey, all 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam are contaminated with UXO and landmines after the war. There are 3 hotspots of dioxin contamination namely: Bien Hoa airport, Dong Nai province; Phu Cat Airport, Binh Dinh Province and Da Nang Airport.

Dioxin treatment at Da Nang airport (Photo: VOV)

Over the past years, Vietnam's Ministry of Defense coordinated with the United States Agency for International Development to thoroughly handle about 90,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated mud at Da Nang Airport, with a total investment of USD 100 million from non-refundable ODA of the US Government and VND 60 billion from counterpart fund of the Government of Vietnam; conducting surveys and assessing dioxin contaminated environment in Bien Hoa airport; identifying some solutions for the project to treat dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa airport.

In order to further promote bilateral cooperation in overcoming consequences of war, the two sides agree to thoroughly handle remaining toxic chemicals at the Da Nang airport, suggesting the US National Assembly and Government to ensure non-refundable ODA for the remedial work at Bien Hoa airport and Phu Cat airport.

Ted Yoho said “The US attaches great importance to cooperative relations with Vietnam and the handling of toxi chemicals remained after the war is a clear demonstration for that. We are doing good deeds so that our future generations have no conflicts when they talk about the past.’’

Translated by VNF