The US-Vietnam Joint Advisory Committee on Agent Orange/Dioxin opened its eighth meeting in the central city of Da Nang on December 4 to exchange views and expand dialogue on Agent Orange/dioxin-related issues. Speaking at the opening session, US Ambassador David B. Shear affirmed that the two-day meeting reflects the level of partnership and trust that exists between Vietnam and the US. He also said the two Governments have agreed that extensive cooperation in addressing post-war issues is a premise for their countries to develop their relationship towards the future. At the meeting, the Vietnamese Defense Ministry and the US Agency for International Development highlighted the progress with the Agent Orange/Dioxin cleanup project at Danang airport, which is considered to be a dioxin hotspot due to the high dioxin concentrations in soil and sediment. The project is on track to clean up all dioxin pollution in the area by the end of 2016, consequently eliminating the risk of dioxin exposure to people living around there. The ministry also presented its master plan for reducing contamination at Bien Hoa Airbase, which is considered to be another dioxin hotspot. During the two-day meeting, participants are expected to share their experience in dealing with persistent organic pollutants, exchange views on Vietnam’s health policy related to Agent Orange/dioxin and the impacts of this agent on children’s development. (vietnamplus.vn Dec 4)
