Vietnam, US to exhibit war remediation efforts in HCM City
HCM City (VNA) – The US Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the War Remnants Museum signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on cooperation in showcasing efforts to remedy war consequences in Ho Chi
Minh City on April 10.
A delegation of the US Congressmen led by Senator Jeff Mekley witnessed
the MoU signing ceremony between USAID Country Director in Vietnam Aler Grubbs and
Director of the museum Tran Xuan Thao.
It was the first concrete result of the memorandum
of intent to conduct joint communication activities to raise awareness of
cooperation in addressing the consequences of war between the USAID and the
Standing Office of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of
Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences in Vietnam (Office
701) in 2021.
Under the MoU, the USAID will assist the museum in building a
modern exhibition space that meets international standards, with convenient
access for visitors. The exhibits will feature mine clearance, environmental
remediation, and support for people with disabilities.
The exhibition space is scheduled to be opened by 2025 on the occasion
of the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomatic
relations and the 50th anniversary of the end of the war and the founding
of the museum.
Speaking at the event, Senator Merkley vowed to strive
for joint cooperation in programmes to support people with disabilities,
particularly children affected by the war; defusing unexploded ordnance and
cleaning up dioxin-contaminated areas.
The same day, the
160th repatriation ceremony for the remains of US soldiers missing
in action during the war took place at Da Nang International Airport in the
central city of Da Nang.
A Vietnamese representative handed over two
sets of remains to the US side, which were the results of the 150th joint search from February-April 2023 in the central provinces of Nghe An and
Quang Binh.
The humanitarian joint effort to search for US soldiers missing
in action during the war in Vietnam has been conducted since the late 1980s
between the two Governments. So far, the remains of 732 US soldiers who died in
the war have been verified./.