VN, RoK cooperate to overcome post-war bomb and mine consequences

Illustration photo

The KOICA and the Ministry of National Defense (MoD) on June 14 in Ha Noi signed a record of discussion on the RoK – Viet Nam mine action project.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense and a member of the Steering Committee for the National Action Program on overcoming post-war bombs and mines (Steering Committee 504) and Mr. Chang Jea-yun, Country Director of the KOICA in Viet Nam signed the action project.

The project aims to strengthen VNMAC’s management capacity; ensure safety for people as well as clear bombs and mines on a site of 8,000ha in the central provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh.

It also aims to raise public awareness of bomb and mine risk and assist victims in reintegrating into the community as well as enhancing effectiveness of remedial mine work nationwide.

The Ministry of Defense and the Viet Nam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) are key implementers of the project in the period of 2016-2020.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Vinh praised the move as a significant beginning to realize the commitments of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in post-war bomb and mine recovery signed in 2014, and the framework agreement on non-refundable aid signed between the two governments in 2009.

The project reflected the goodwill in solving humanitarian and development issues between the two Governments in a spirit of the strategic cooperative partnership, he said.

RoK Ambassador to Viet Nam Lee Hyuk, for his part, pledged to help victims of bombs, mines and explosive materials and raise public awareness of bomb and mine accidents.

By Viet Cuong