General Ngo Xuan Lich (3rd from right) presenting a gift to the Central Committee of the Vietnam War Veterans’ Association
On behalf of the CMC, MND, officers, and soldiers of the entire army, General Ngo Xuan Lich wished all war veterans nationwide good health and happiness. The general stressed that the CMC and MND have always been supported by the association’s affiliates at all levels to successfully accomplish their military and defense tasks.
The minister believed that with Uncle Ho soldiers’ spirit and experiences in the revolutionary struggles, the association will continue to actively support local Party committees, authorities, and the entire people and soldiers. Moreover, the minister also strongly believed that in 2017 the CCVWVA will prepare and organize successfully its congresses at all levels.
The association’s President, retired Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Duoc, thanked the CMC and MND for their concern. He stressed that the war veterans would continue sharing their experiences and joining efforts to work out defense-military strategies in the new context.
On this occasion, the MND decided to assist the CCVWVA with VND 400 million to cover the association’s activities.
General Ngo Xuan Lich (standing) at the meeting with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Later in the afternoon, General Ngo Xuan Lich had a meeting with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) at the MND’s Headquarters in Hanoi. Retired Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, former Deputy Minister of National Defense, VAVA President, and Major General Le Hien Van, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army, attended the meeting.
VAVA’s network covers 61 out 63 provinces with more than 360,000 members. As of 2016, about 312,000 people who fought in the Vietnam War had been confirmed exposed to toxic chemicals and their children get monthly allowances from the State budget. More and more AO victims and their family members have received allowances and their health and living conditions have been improved. Since its establishment, the association has always been greatly supported by the MND, both materially and spiritually.
On behalf of the CMC and MND, General Ngo Xuan Lich highly appreciated the association’s achievements in strengthening its organization and implementing policies to support the veterans who had been exposed to toxic chemicals, considering it a political, social, and humanitarian task.
The minister highlighted that the CMC and MND always pay special attention to and direct the MND’s relevant agencies to collaborate and support the association and its affiliates to operate in line with their missions and objectives.
According to the minister, the MND will continue to promote efforts to overcome the consequences of the Agent Orange/Dioxin. To facilitate the association’s activities, the MND will also boost communication activities and direct its agencies to work with other relevant governmental ones to research and make proposals to the government to amend or supplement policies on the victims of dioxin.
Moreover, military medical and research institutions are also asked to focus their research and implement projects on remediating Agent Orange/Dioxin consequences.
Translated by Ngoc Hung