The meeting was under the chair of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee, permanent member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy-Defense Minister, permanent member of the National Steering Committee on Overcoming War Consequences of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Toxic Chemicals in Vietnam and head of Office 701.

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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh addressing the event

Listening to reports by Office 701 under the Department of Military Sciences and related agencies and units as well as participants’ opinions, General Vinh underscored that last year, the related military and civilian agencies and units closely coordinated with each other and seriously implemented Decision 701 of the Prime Minister who is head of the National Steering Committee.

He lauded the Department of Military Sciences for their prompt and timely compilation of documents on the operational regulations of the National Steering Committee, and Office 701.

He also highlighted the staff work of the Permanent Office, contributing to adding the cooperation content on overcoming war consequences of UXO and toxic chemicals to the joint statements between Vietnam and the US, Japan, Australia, Israel and more.

General Vinh asked Office 701 to take notes all comments and then complete its report on previous achievements, the working program for 2018 and orientations by 2020 to submit to the Head of the National Steering Committee for approval at the first sitting.

The senior officer reminded related agencies to further study and make amendments and additions to Decision 504 on overcoming UXO consequences and Decision 651 on overcoming toxic chemicals consequences left by wars as well as strengthen the National Center on overcoming consequences of wars in Vietnam.

He requested related agencies under ministries, departments, the Vietnamese association of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and the association of victims of bombs and mines to cooperate closely with Office 701 and other military agencies and units to make recommendations on completing policies, boosting medical care and vocational support for victims of UXO and toxic chemicals.

Translated by Mai Huong