At the event, leaders from the Permanent Office of the National Steering Committee on Overcoming War Consequences of UXO and Toxic Chemicals in Vietnam (Office 701 in short) reported on the pro-active and effective coordination among military and civilian agencies and units in carrying out the work.
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Gen. Chien speaks at the event. |
Accordingly, despite changes in U.S. aid policy, the Air Defense - Air Force Service, Office 701 and other relevant units promoted dioxin cleanup at Bien Hoa airport with 42,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil excavated, meeting 70% of the plan 2025. Surveys are ongoing at Phu Cat Airport and 10 former airfields in Military Regions 5 and 7. Initial dioxin contamination levels at Phu Cat Airport have been identified.
Meanwhile, around 11,000 hectares have been surveyed for UXO clearance for key projects, such as Vietnam-RoK Peace Village and those in former Ha Giang province, Lao Cai, Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces along the Vietnam – China border.
In his speech, Gen. Chien, who is also head of the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee on Overcoming War Consequences of UXO and Toxic Chemicals in Vietnam, hailed relevant agencies and units for their close collaboration and timely provision of suggestions to ensure the progress of projects related to the post-war UXO settlement efforts.
He requested them to continue embracing higher-level directions on the work, finalize the National Mine Action Program for the 2026-2045 period with a vision to 2065 and the national strategy on post-war UXO prevention to submit to the Government and the Prime Minister for approval. In addition, they should strengthen international cooperation with the U.S., Japan, the Republic of Korea and Italy to enhance transfer of UXO-clearance technologies; accelerate dioxin cleanup, especially in Bien Hoa Airport; and improve support for people with disabilities in six Agent Orange/dioxin-heavily-affected provinces.
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An overview of the meeting |
The defense leader also asked for acceleration of negotiations for a Memorandum of Understanding with Italy’s Ministry of Defense on UXO remediation cooperation and efforts to complete nationwide UXO clearance by 2050.
Translated by Song Anh