Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, made the suggestion at a reception for Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda on August 13 at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense. 

The two sides should also promote information dissemination to help people of the two countries and international friends learn more about Vietnam’ and Japan’s efforts in implementing the work.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed international cooperation in clearing UXO, cleaning dioxin-contaminated land and helping victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Vietnam. General Vinh said that Japan is one of the countries which have actively joined Vietnam’s efforts and made positive contributions to overcoming war consequences in Vietnam.

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At the reception

He highlighted the Japanese Government’ and agencies’ active support for the Vietnamese side through projects on mine action, dioxin contamination remediation and assistance to Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims.

General Vinh and Japanese diplomat Kunio agreed that bilateral defense cooperation is one of the important pillars of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership, and is strongly developing. The two sides have fostered delegation exchanges at all levels, jointly held national defense policy dialogues at the deputy minister level, promoted cooperation in personnel training, and shared experience in joining United Nations peacekeeping operations.

General Vinh said that in the coming time the two countries should promote the implementation of the signed agreements on bilateral defense cooperation with a focus on personnel training and war consequences relief in Vietnam.

At the reception, Vietnamese Deputy Defenses Minister affirmed the Vietnamese Defense Ministry’s support to Japan’s cooperation with ASEAN and hoped that the Japanese side will help Vietnam successfully organize conferences and activities when Vietnam assumes ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

Translated by Tran Hoai