VN, U.S. enhance cooperation in defense
VGP – U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis asserted to join hand with Viet Nam to strengthen bilateral relationship in fields of security of navigation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peace-keeping activities and remediation of consequences of the war.
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Vietnamese Minister of Defense Ngo Xuan Lich receives U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Ho Chi Minh City, October 17, 2018 - Photo: MOD |
This is the second visit to Viet Nam made by the U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2018.
At the meeting, Mr. Lich highly appraised the U.S. cooperation in dioxin remediation in Viet Nam, asserting that Viet Nam will continue overcoming consequences of the war, including environmental remediation of dioxin contamination, especially at Bien Hoa Airport.
He suggested the U.S. further cooperate with Viet Nam to soon launch and complete the Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contamination project at Bien Hoa Airport, thus enhancing the economic development in Viet Nam.
For his part, Mr. James Mattis said that he would report to the U.S. Government and Congress to continue assistance for Viet Nam in the remediation of dioxin.
Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of Defense visited the area where environmental remediation of dioxin contamination is taking place at Bien Hoa Airport in Dong Nai Province.
The United States Agency for International Development, together with the Ministry of National Defense, completed a successful five-year, US$110 million effort to clean dioxin contaminated soil at Da Nang International Airport earlier this year.
The subsequent dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Airbase exemplifies the persistent steps both countries continue to make to jointly resolve war legacies, while deepening a strong partnership through security, economic, and cultural cooperation.
By Thuy Dung
