Nearly 150 delegates attended a two-day seminar on Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin at Berkeley University near San Francisco, California, USA, in late October.

The seminar, co-organised by the Rotary Foundation and the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, drew the participation of Ngo Quang Xuan, Head of the US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on AO/dioxin, Susan Berresford, the Group's co-ordinator, and Charles Bailey, director of the Aspen Institute's Agent Orange in Vietnam program.

Vietnamese Americans, members of Viet Fellows, and AO/dioxin victims also attended the event.

Speaking at the seminar, Xuan said the meeting aimed to discuss ways to overcome the consequences of AO/dioxin in Vietnam.

He noted that the project to detoxify dioxin-affected Danang International Airport was a great success and said he hopes that Vietnam will receive further financial, technological support to treat Bien Hoa airport in the future.

Xuan added that the seminar contributed to raise the awareness of the public and organizations in the US about the consequences Vietnam has suffered as a result of AO/dioxin.

The Rotary Foundation and the US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on AO/dioxin are currently carrying out a project to improve access to safe water sources in Dong Son commune, A Luoi district, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, which was severely affected by AO/dioxin contamination.

Source: VOV