President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan Hong received a delegation from the US organisation Soldier’s Heart Initiative (SHI), led by its President cum Executive Director Ed Tick, who is on a working visit from December 28 – January 14.

Hong briefed the guest on VUFO’s mission, including the Vietnam–US Society, to promote mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the people of Vietnam and the world, including the US .

He said he hopes the visit will help build trust and enhance the friendship between the two peoples, and that international friends will pay more attention to humanitarian needs and the after-effects of war, including Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin and unexploded ordnance in Vietnam.

The US side said they hope to find opportunities to start a psychotherapy project in Vietnam. They will also visit some charitable, cultural and art organisations in the country.

Since 2004, SHI has sent annual delegations of US war veterans and their relatives to Vietnam to donate money and medicine to AO-affected children and poor households. They also engage in cultural exchanges with Vietnamese writers and poets that promote peace and speak out against the war.-VNA