The Vietnamese defense official expressed his hope during the reception for Ms. Aler Grubbs and Colonel Thomas Bouchillon, U.S. Defense Attaché to Vietnam, on January 13 in Hanoi.
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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and USAID Director in Vietnam Aler Grubbs at the reception |
General Chien highlighted the first stage of the project on dioxin detoxification at Bien Hoa Airport, the study of the possibility of coordinating to evaluate the results of dioxin treatment at A So Airport, A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province and supporting the thorough treatment of dioxin-contaminated soil at Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh province. He also laid stress on the expansion of the scope, scale, and subjects to be settled, the consequences of dioxin on humans in the project on helping to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in Vietnam; sharing experience, equipment and DNA testing technology with Vietnam to better the search for and gathering of remains of Vietnamese fallen troops; and effective organization of communications activities on overcoming the consequences of bombs, mines and toxic chemicals left over from the war.
At the reception, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien believed that with their experience, the USAID director and the defense attaché will make active contribution to developing the relations between Vietnam and the U.S., especially in 2023 when the two countries are holding various activities in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership.
The Vietnamese senior officer confirmed that the U.S. is one of the leading partners of Vietnam and the country wishes to boost the bilateral relationship with the U.S. for the interest of both countries, contributing to upholding peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.
The host spoke highly of the bilateral defense cooperation over the past time, saying that it has been carried out in accordance with the two countries’ relationship and with the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing bilateral defense ties signed in 2011, the joint vision statement on defense relations inked in 2015. He highlighted positive results achieved in dialogue - consultation, exchange of high-level delegations, settlement of war legacy, training, search and rescue, U.N. peacekeeping, military medicine, with the focus on addressing war aftermaths.
He suggested Ms. Grubbs pay more attention to the realization of cooperation contents.
The Vietnamese general asked Colonel Bouchillon, in his capacity, to cooperate to effectively carry out the cooperation contents on the basis of the signed documents and agreements.
For her part, Ms. Grubbs highly appreciated the cooperation between the two defense ministries in addressing war legacy, economy, climate change, education, among others. She expressed her belief that the defense ties between Vietnam and the U.S. will further develop in the time ahead.
Stressing the importance of the cooperation in settling war legacy, saying that it is a foundation for cooperation in other fields, Colonel Bouchillon hoped that the two defense ministries will continue to enhance cooperation in fields of common concern.
Translated by Mai Huong