At the reception, General Lich highly appreciated the US cooperation in projects of environmental remediation of the dioxin contamination in Vietnam over the past time, adding that the sound bilateral defense cooperation so far has considerably contributed to cementing the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

leftcenterrightdel
General Ngo Xuan Lich (right) and US Defense Secretary James Mattis at the reception

The Vietnamese Defense Minister underlined that Vietnam would continuously focus on addressing war-left consequences, particularly implementing the dioxin detoxification projects in Bien Hoa airport. He urged the US side to further cooperate with Vietnam to soon start and complete the dioxin treatment project in Bien Hoa.

For his part, US Defense Secretary James Mattis thanked General Lich for his reception and for creating favorable conditions for the US working delegation to tour the Bien Hoa dioxin hot-spot.

The US Defense Secretary pledged to work with the Vietnamese side to effectively implement their agreements. He affirmed that, results of his visit to Bien Hoa airport will be used to report to the US Government and Congress for continued cooperation activities with Vietnam to deal with the war-left aftermath, including dioxin contamination, in the country.

Additionally, General Lich and his US counterpart agreed to strengthen the bilateral defense cooperation relations in various fields, such as maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, dealing with the aftermath of the war in Vietnam, and UN peacekeeping operations.

Translated by Van Hieu