Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam received US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper - Photo: Tran Tuyen

At the reception, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam emphasized that the visit and work of the US Embassy delegation in Quang Tri on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States is very meaningful.

At the same time, he affirmed that in recent times, the US Government has supported Quang Tri province through foreign non-governmental organizations to implement programs and projects in the fields of overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines, supporting people with disabilities, building schools and medical stations, preventing and mitigating natural disasters, improving emergency response capacity, etc.

Of which, the budget for programs and projects in the field of overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines is about 104.8 million USD. Up to now, the total area of ​​bombs and mines cleared has reached more than 380 million ^m2 , of which the area contaminated with cluster bombs that has been treated is 246.37 million ^m2 , accounting for about 39.8% of the total area confirmed to be contaminated with cluster bombs.

Quang Tri is one of the key provinces in the search for Americans missing in action (MIA) with the highest number of cases in the country. Implementing the humanitarian policy between the governments of Vietnam and the United States, in recent times, the search for the remains of American soldiers missing in action in Vietnam has always been of interest and direction to the Provincial People's Committee. The results achieved are an extremely important foundation for the two countries to continue their diplomatic relations.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam presents a gift to US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper - Photo: Tran Tuyen

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam suggested that the Ambassador continue to connect and propose to the US Department of State to promptly deploy the search for the remains of soldiers whose information is available; and increase assistance to Vietnam with information and crime scenes to search for missing Vietnamese soldiers.

Continue to fund mine action projects in Quang Tri through foreign non-governmental organizations. Thereby, helping Quang Tri strive towards the goal of becoming the first province in the country to be safe from mines by 2035.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also hopes that the US Government will continue to support Quang Tri to improve its capacity to coordinate mine action so that the province can maintain and expand the most effective mine action model in the country; consider supporting training activities on level 3 mine and explosive disposal for the Provincial Mine Action Center and supporting the center's operating budget after 2025.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper presents a gift to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam - Photo: Tran Tuyen

Currently, Quang Tri province has sent a document to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting cooperation with the US Government to implement the Pacific Friendship program. We request that the Ambassador pay attention and support Quang Tri province to receive this program.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper highly appreciated the idea of ​​organizing the Pacific Friendship program, believing that the program will be successful on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of normalization of relations between the two countries. At the same time, he said that in the near future, he will send a working delegation to Quang Tri to coordinate and support the province in planning the organization.

Currently, the US Embassy is promoting the progress of searching for and repatriating the remains of American soldiers in Vietnam; promoting support for Vietnam in searching for and collecting the remains of soldiers missing in action during the war.

Regarding mine action, Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper affirmed that he will propose that the US Government continue to provide budget and resources for mine action programs and projects in Quang Tri, and pledged to maintain its determination to support the province in mine clearance in the coming time.

Tran Tuyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/dai-su-hoa-ky-tai-viet-nam-cam-ket-ho-tro-quang-tri-trong-viec-ra-pha-bom-min-192674.htm