Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien (R) receives Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary General, Deputy Regional Director and Director for the Asia-Pacific at UNDP (Photo: qdnd.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien called for more supportfrom the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for Vietnam in overcoming post-warbombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) consequences and UN peacekeeping,during a meeting with Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary General, Deputy RegionalDirector and Director for the Asia-Pacific at UNDP, in Hanoi on July 28.
The Vietnamese official affirmed that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry attaches greatimportance to cooperation with the UN, UNDP and partners in dealing with war consequences.
The ministry wishesto receive more financial and technical assistance from UNDP, and learnfrom its experience in building an information database of mine action, hesaid, proposing that UNDP closely coordinate with the ministry’sagencies in implementing the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action project (KVMAP).
Chien also suggested expanding cooperation between the ministry, UNDP and other good-will partnersin remediation of chemical/dioxin consequences through resource supportactivities to strengthen efficiency in researching, analysing and treating toxicchemicals/dioxin; and improve living conditions and reduce the impact of toxicchemical/dioxin exposure for victims in Vietnam.
At the reception (Photo: VNA) According to Chien, the cooperation between Vietnam with UNDP, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and other international organisations in this work hascontributed to reducing the number of bomb, mine and UXO victims, especially incentral localities of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Thua Thien – Hue,and the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang; and clearing land forproduction.
He expressed the hopethat Wignaraja will pay more attention to supporting and further promoting effectivecooperation activities between UNDP and other parties in overcoming post-war bombs,mines and UXO in Vietnam.
For UN peacekeeping activities, the Vietnamese official affirmed that Vietnamhas made significant achievements after eight years of participating in the UN peacekeepingmission.
Vietnam advocatesdeeper participation in UN peacekeeping operation, he affirmed, expressing thehope that UNDP in Vietnam will support and promote cooperation activities inthe field and continue to work closely with the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to organise an international conference on women, peace and security in the fourth quarter of 2022.
For her part, Wignarajasaid she hopes UNDP and the Vietnamese Defence Ministry will coordinate moreeffectively to implement projects that not only support demining but also help Vietnamesepeople live a happier and more prosperous life.
She thanked the ministryfor its support for and coordination with UNDP to implement the KVMAP in 2018-2022, as well as to prepare proceduresfor approval of the Vietnam-Korea Peace Village project and others in thisfield.
Wignaraja spoke highly of Vietnam's commitment and achievementsin participating in UN peacekeeping activities, saying she was impressed at the percentage of Vietnamese female soldiers participating in UN peacekeepingactivities that is higher than the UN’s proposal.
She affirmed that UNDPwill continue to support Vietnam in overcoming consequences of war-time bombs, mines and UXO consequences, and strengthening Vietnam’s role in UNpeacekeeping operation.
UNDP wishes to workclosely with Vietnam and its Defence Ministry in these works, and share Vietnam'sgood experience with the world, she said./.
