General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense, receives his US counterpart James Mattis in Ho Chi Minh City on  October 14, 2018

Mr. Lich stressed that Vietnam will focus on overcoming war consequences, including the detoxification of dioxin contaminated areas, especially at Bien Hoa airport. He proposed the US side actively collaborate with Vietnam in the coming time to soon implement and complete a project on dioxin treatment at Bien Hoa airport in order to clean up contaminated land, contributing to fostering economic development in Vietnam.
The US Secretary of Defense pledged to enhance bilateral defense cooperation, particularly in maritime security, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, peacekeeping missions and overcoming war consequences. He added the outcome of this visit will lay a foundation for the US Government and Congress to continue supporting Vietnam in surmounting the post-war consequences related to dioxin.

Bien Hoa airport is one of dioxin contaminated hotspots in Vietnam (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Earlier, the US Secretary of Defense visited the dioxin treatment area in Bien Hoa airport, where the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are jointly implementing a project on dioxin remediation.