Hanoi (VNA) – Peace Trees Vietnam held anonline ceremony in Seattle, Washington, on October 20 to celebrate its 25thfounding anniversary.
Founded in 1995, PeaceTrees Vietnam’s mission is toheal the legacy of war by removing explosives, returning land to safeuse, promoting peace and cultivating a brighter future for the children andfamilies of Vietnam.
The organisation has handled more than 123,000explosives, and planted over 44,000 trees so far, according to Peace Trees Vietnam founder Jerilyn Brusseau.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen PhuongNga, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), saidVietnam treasures Americans’ efforts in ending the war, helping Vietnamesepeople heal war wounds, and pushing ahead with the normalisation of relationsbetween the two countries.
Nga also highlighted results of thebilateral collaboration in economy, trade and education.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an activerole in Vietnam’s activities, she said, adding that the country has maintainedrelations with more than 1,200 international NGOs.
NGOs of the US has provided financial support forVietnam, helping the country deal with war consequences, reduce poverty, improveliving standards, health care and educational quality, and cope withnon-traditional challenges like climate change, Nga stressed.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J.Kritenbrinkattributed the fine bilateral ties to efforts of peoples and leaders of bothcountries for a long time.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc saidVietnam and the US share many common interests such as peace, rules-basedsecurity and safety, and strategic balance.
Delegates at the ceremony also discussed issuesregarding the fight against COVID-19 and orientations for the Vietnam-USrelations in the future, among others./.
VNA