Ambassador Kritenbrink (right) visits with Peace Trees deminers at a UXO clearance site to learn more about their work. — Photo courtesy of the US Embassy Hanoi

HÀ NỘI — Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink visited central Quảng Trị Province on Tuesday to highlight cooperation in addressing war legacies. 

In his meeting with chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chính, Kritenbrink congratulated the province for its accomplishments on removing UXO and its leading model for mine action in Việt Nam and the region.

The partnerships between the provincial authorities, international organisations, and US-funded NGOs have set the standard of best practices in UXO decontamination.  

The ambassador said: “Within Quảng Trị Province, the US Embassy deeply appreciates our close cooperation with the provincial government and NGOs to address war legacies. We are so grateful for these vital partnerships in our shared efforts to make the province impact-free by 2025.”

Visiting a Peace Trees Vietnam unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance site, Kritenbrink met with Country Director Phạm Hoàng Hà – one of the first female UXO specialists – and a diverse group of deminers to witness their tremendous efforts to clear and demine Quảng Trị. 

The US Department of State provides funding to Peace Trees Vietnam with the goal of making communities safe and Quảng Trị Province UXO impact-free by 2025.

The US-funded UXO teams have cleared nearly 160 million square metres in Việt Nam since the beginning of operations in 1995, and disposed of over 700,000 UXO devices and other explosive remnants of war.

Addressing war legacy issues is a fundamental element of US-Việt Nam relations. In a spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect, Kritenbrink also visited the Hiền Lương Bridge and Trường Sơn Cemetery. — VNS