General Phan Văn Giang, Minister of National Defence, in talks with former Chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee Patrick Leahy, who served as a Senator from 1975 to 2023 and twice as the Senate's President Pro Tempore, as part of his official visit to the US. — VNA/VNS Photo Kiều Trang

WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Phan Văn Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence, on September 8 held a phone call with former Chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee Patrick Leahy, who served as a Senator from 1975 to 2023 and twice as the Senate's President Pro Tempore, as part of his official visit to the US.

Giang said that his official visit marks one year since the two countries set up their comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, with an aim to implement a defence cooperation agreement reached by high-ranking leaders as noted in a Joint Statement on upgrading relations, and to further promote defence collaboration in various areas, including delegation exchanges, dialogues and consultations, settlement of war remediation, United Nations peacekeeping, training, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, cybersecurity and military medicine.

Confirming that the Vietnamese government, Ministry of National Defence and citizens remember the contributions of various generations of US Senators to the development of bilateral relations, particularly through cooperation in addressing the aftermath of war, Giang noted that this area of cooperation is crucial to the process of reconciliation, healing and trust building between the two nations in the history of Việt Nam-US relations over the past 35 years.

For Việt Nam, addressing the consequences of war is a necessary part of humanitarian cooperation that the State, Government, army and people deeply care about, the Vietnamese defence minister said, highlighting that Việt Nam and the US have made significant progress in this field.

The Vietnamese defence minister stated his belief that the results of cooperation in this field will continue to bring the two countries closer together and inspire and motivate the people of both nations, particularly the next generations of parliamentarians, to turn this symbolic humanitarian cooperation into a shared legacy in bilateral relations and a model for international cooperation.

Việt Nam hopes for continued assistance from the US, with priority given to the acceleration of the dioxin remediation project at Biên Hoà Airbase, handling dioxin-contaminated soil at Phù Cát Airbase, clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) and providing information, documents, equipment and technology for DNA testing to support the search and identification of Vietnamese soldiers whose information was lost or who went missing in the war. For its part, Việt Nam is committed to closely cooperating with the US in the efforts to search for their soldiers listed as missing in action (MIA), added Giang.

As 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and the US and the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Việt Nam, Giang expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to work closely together to organise meaningful activities related to war legacy remediation.

Welcoming Giang on his first official visit to the US as Việt Nam's Minister of National Defence, Leahy expressed appreciation and pleasure at the development of Việt Nam-US relations in recent years. He highlighted progress in overcoming differences and the pain of war to collaborate for a better future, as well as emphasising the recent upgrade of their relationship.

The official said that he personally, along with many US Senators who have a special bond with Việt Nam, is committed to contributing to the bilateral relationship, particularly through activities related to the settlement of the aftermath of war, such as UXO clearance, dioxin remediation and support for people with disabilities in Việt Nam.

He showed his wish that in the years to come, cooperation on war remediation will remain a foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations, contributing to both countries achieving their shared goals of peace and prosperity. — VNS