US should take responsibility for aftermath of war, says PM

Published: 06/04/2010 05:00

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday emphasised that Viet Nam always wished to develop friendly and co-operative relations with the US for mutual benefit, . . .

Photo: VOV

Dung said the serious aftermaths that lingered after the US war continued to have negative impacts on the country and its people.

More than 2 million Vietnamese people were killed, millions were injured and more than 300,000 still missing.

Three million Vietnamese people were exposed to toxic chemicals sprayed by the US military during the war.

On a weekly basis, people nationwide continue to be injured by bombs and mines left behind by the war.

PM Dung expressed his hope that the US delegation of veterans and the board of the Viet Nam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC) would continue to make efforts to disseminate information about the aftermath of the US war in Viet Nam to the US Government and people.

To take responsibility and listen to their conscience, they should co-operate with the Vietnamese government to give assistance to Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange to help them overcome the difficulties they face, he said.

Paul Cox, board member of the VAORRC, affirmed that during the trip the delegation deeply understood the pain and serious AO impacts suffered by the victims and their families.

He said they would actively prepare for drafting a bill to support the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange and stressed they would continue in their search for justice for the victims.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News