Viet Nam, U.S. promote cooperation in war legacy remediation

The MoU follows commitments made in the 2023 Joint Statement on upgrading Viet Nam–U.S. relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; the 2024 Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation; and the 2011 defense cooperation MoU, which was updated in 2022.

Under the latest MoU, Viet Nam and the U.S. pledge to continue cooperation in clearing unexploded ordnance, improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in areas heavily affected by Agent Orange, cleaning up dioxin at Bien Hoa Airbase, supporting the search, recovery, and identification of Vietnamese martyrs' remains, and maintaining comprehensive cooperation in the search for U.S. service members missing in action in Viet Nam.

Both sides also agreed to promote experience sharing, training, scientific research, technology application, as well as organize conferences, workshops, and communication programs to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in this humanitarian field.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien said the MoU materializes the shared understanding of both nations' leaders, representing an important milestone in Viet Nam–U.S. defense cooperation.

He affirmed that the two countries remain strongly committed to expanding cooperation in addressing war consequences.

Hoang added that the MoU signing takes place at a special time — as the two countries celebrate 30 years of normalization of diplomatic relations and ahead of the official visit to Viet Nam by the U.S. Secretary of War, scheduled for early next month.

In recent years, Viet Nam and the U.S. have closely coordinated and achieved significant outcomes in war legacy remediation, including dioxin cleanup at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airbases; improving the quality of life for Agent Orange victims in six heavily sprayed provinces; and returning the remains of U.S. soldiers missing in action during the war.

U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper applauded the commitments, regarding them as a solid foundation for bilateral relations in the new phase. He emphasized that 2025 marks a special milestone — the 30th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties — providing an opportunity for both sides to reflect on past achievements and strengthen humanitarian cooperation.

"This is a chance to reaffirm our shared spirit of cooperation in addressing war legacies and our determination to accomplish this important mission together in the coming time," the Ambassador said./.