Vietnam seeks continued US assistance in dealing with war legacies

Chinh, who is on a visit to the U.S. from May 11 to 17, conveyed the message at a meeting with Patrick Leahy, the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate and several other key senators on May 11, a press release from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets Patrick Leahy, the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, during his ongoing visit to the U.S. on May 11, 2022. Photo by Nhat Bac

At the meeting, he appreciated the tireless efforts by senators, especially the leading role played by Leahy, in strengthening a bipartisan consensus in favor of developing relations with Vietnam.

He emphasized that their support and cooperation in dealing with war legacies are an important and meaningful part in the process of reconciliation, healing and building trust between the two peoples.

He hoped that Leahy would continue to inspire future generations of U.S. congressmen to continue the work of providing financial assistance to victims of dioxin, unexploded ordnance (UXO), Agent Orange, and to the search for Vietnamese soldiers who died in the war.

Leahy, whose Senate term expires in January 2023, said the U.S. Congress has had generations of members supporting Vietnam – U.S. relations.

The other senators pledged to continue the work of Leahy after he retires to effectively resolve issues of mutual concern and promote the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

Chinh expressed appreciation for the senators’ support for ASEAN’s central role and its views on regional issues.

He underlined Vietnam’s consistent stance on peacefully settling disputes on the basis of international law, not using or threatening to use force, and ensuring freedom and safety of navigation and overflight in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.