Apart from training and combat readiness missions, the Chemical Corps is also tasked with the surveillance, collection, and detoxification of war-left chemicals. Moreover, carrying out defense relations activities is also a mission that captures the attention of the corps. After the results of mission accomplishment in 2018, in 2019 the Chemical Corps boosted international cooperation in war consequence settlement and environmental treatment.
In 2019, representatives from the corps joining working missions of the Ministry of National Defense attended international workshops on war consequence settlement in the United States and Japan. The leadership of the Chemical Corps also exchanged experiences in chemical affairs and solutions to chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) incidents with experts from various countries such as Russia and ASEAN members.
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The chemical contingent of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) in Army Games 2019 |
To develop defense relations with other countries in an intensive and extensive manner, the Chemical Corps has prioritized cooperation with traditional partners and ASEAN countries. In 2019, the corps regularly sent working missions to Laos and Cambodia to help their officials with CBRN-related training courses. The unit has also boosted cooperation with Russia in such areas as delegation exchange, training, and technical assistance. Every year, the Chemical Corps sends various officials and cadets to training courses offered by the Academy of Radioactive, Chemical and Biological Incident Prevention of Russia. The Vietnamese learners are always highly appreciated by the host academy. Remarkably, the chemical contingent of Vietnam joined the Army Games 2019 in Xinjiang, China and impressively brought home a bronze medal and four other individual titles.
The establishment of the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET) in 2019 is an important milestone of the corps in particular and of the Vietnam People’s Army in general. The center serves as an important basis for the expansion of defense relations activities in war consequence settlement and environmental treatment, especially in finding foreign assistance, treatment approaches, and technology transfer.
Apart from that, the Chemical Corps has actively cooperated with the Chemical Department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and joining activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and more. All of those activities have shown the active role of the Chemical Corps in implementing the CWC of Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army.
In 2020, the Chemical Corps will continue promoting its advisory role to the Ministry of National Defense in the chemical field, with more focus on defense relations activities. The corps will actively make proposals to the Ministry of National Defense to devise and sign cooperation protocols with Laos and Cambodia in the 2020-2024 period and enhance cooperation with Russia. Moreover, the corps will be ever-ready to undertake other defense relations tasks when required.
Under the sound leadership of the Central Military Commission, the Chemical Corps will successfully fulfill its assigned missions in 2020, contributing to the implementation of defense relations and firmly maintaining security and defense disposition for the safeguarding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Translated by Huu Duong