A delegation of the Defense Ministry, headed by Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh, is visiting Japan from October 15 to 18 in a bid to boost cooperation in war aftermath alleviation in Vietnam. As part of the trip, the delegation met with leaders of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Foreign Ministry, National Police Agency’s Security Bureau, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and a number of related Japanese enterprises. At these working sessions, the sides discussed their joint work in easing war consequences in the past time and ways to increase the collaboration in the coming time. Deputy Minister Vinh took the occasion to thank relevant Japanese agencies and organizations for supporting Vietnam in carrying out projects on bomb and mine clearance and dioxin detoxification. He highlighted Japan’s provision of official development assistance to the newly established National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), in the form of machinery and equipment serving the survey and assessment of chemical pollution level. Vinh, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Steering Committee 701), said such cooperation builds trust and consolidates Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership. He asked Japanese public agencies and organizations to continue working together with their Vietnamese counterparts, particularly the Steering Committee 701, in implementing projects addressing the problems of unexploded ordnance left by war and toxic chemical, while studying the possibility of a long-term cooperation plan. Joint work in communications campaign to raise local and international awareness of the two countries’ collaboration efforts in the field is also necessary, he added. During the visit, the delegation held a consultation with the Japanese Defense Ministry on matters related to Vietnam’s Chair of ASEAN next year. The Vietnamese side asked Japan to join and support Vietnam’s initiatives, and coordinate with the Vietnamese Defense Ministry for the successful organization of relevant conferences and activities. (Vietnam Plus)
