Speaking at the event, Ambassador Ito Naoki said that the Japanese Government has cooperated with Vietnam in clearing mines and explosive remnants of war for over 20 years with other support programs mainly in Central Vietnam, through JICA, the ASEAN-Japan Integration Fund, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thereby, helping people have a safer life, peace of mind in working, producing and developing the economy.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his appreciation for the practical support from the Government and people of Japan. He said that the project not only demonstrates the good cooperative relationship between the two countries but also represents a valuable contribution from both sides in protecting the environment and overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Ambassador Ito Naoki visit the exhibition area of ​​mine clearance equipment. (Photo: Ministry of National Defense)

The project provides Vietnam with advanced technologies, such as tree cutting equipment and mine clearance equipment using advanced Japanese technology. The project also trains, educates, and transfers technology to the equipment management team and equipment operation team of VNMAC on new techniques and technologies in mine clearance; provides training on standards and mine clearance procedures with mechanical equipment to improve productivity, reduce human effort, and ensure safety for people performing this work; and conducts field trials of mine clearance using new equipment received from Japan.

Previously, on December 21, 2024 in Hanoi, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Ambassador Ito Naoki signed a diplomatic note on the Project "Providing mine clearance equipment" worth 500 million yen under the Japanese Government's non-refundable aid cooperation program for VNMAC.

The project is one of the priorities of Program 504, aiming to reduce contamination from unexploded ordnance left over from the war in Vietnam, especially in heavily contaminated areas, to clean up the environment and ensure safe land for use.

According to statistics, after decades of conducting mine and explosive clearance, by the end of 2024, Vietnam will still have about 5.6 million hectares (accounting for 17.71% of the country's total area) contaminated by mines and explosives left over from the war.

Receiving modern equipment from Japan will help speed up the land clearance process, reduce the risk of accidents, ensure people’s safety, and facilitate production and economic development. In addition to providing technical support, this cooperation also contributes to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan, demonstrating the strong commitment of both sides to overcoming the consequences of war and promoting sustainable development.

Previously, during the 2010-2016 period, Japan funded 5.5 million USD for bomb and mine clearance projects in Quang Tri and Ha Tinh provinces.