Representatives of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs meets with leader of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations in Hà Nội on November 18. — Photo thoidai.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) and the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) on Wednesday pledged to support each other.

The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding offering to help each other’s causes to mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings (1945-2020) and 60th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Việt Nam (1961-2021).

According to the MoU, the two sides would cooperate frequently on promoting the understanding of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons and Agent Orange/Dioxin.

They will call on Governments of all countries to participate and commit with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as urging them to disarm these weapons and provide support and compensation for the victims.

The two sides have also agreed to cooperate on the collection of more signatures for the Appeal of the Hibakusha, a campaign that calls for total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nguyễn Văn Rinh, Chairman of VAVA, said Japanese and Vietnamese people have experienced the disastrous and tragic consequences of weapons of mass destruction, referring to the US’ dropping of two nuclear bombs in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and the spraying of more than 80 million litres of highly toxic chemicals in southern Việt Nam during the 1961-1971 period of the war.

Millions have died while countless others in subsequent generations are suffering from the crippling diseases and deformities caused by the toxins, he said.

The countries have helped each other to overcome the consequences, Rinh added, voicing his appreciation to the financial and spiritual support from the Japanese government, the country’s embassy in Việt Nam and the Japanese people for the support they have given the Vietnamese victims over the years.

Gensuikyo Representative Director Hiroshi Taka expressed his hope Japan and Việt Nam could work together to build a world of peace without atomic bombs and WMD.

On the occasion, Gensuikyo provided assistance to Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims through the VAVA. — VNS