Vietnam and the United States continue to cooperate closely to overcome the consequences of war.

On the afternoon of July 11, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van received Mr. Kelly McKeague, Director of the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Accounting Agency of the US Department of Defense (DPAA), on the occasion of his working visit to Vietnam from July 8-12.

Overview of the working session between Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) of the US Department of Defense . (Photo: Jackie Chan)

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van highly appreciated Mr. Kelly McKeague's visit, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the 40th anniversary of the first joint operation to search for US soldiers missing in action, and the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam.

These are historical milestones showing the journey of the two former enemies overcoming a difficult past, gradually healing, normalizing and building relations to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as it is today.

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van affirmed that humanitarian cooperation in searching for US soldiers missing in action in Vietnam (MIA) has been of interest to the Vietnamese Government since the Paris Agreement was signed in 1973. This stems from the humanistic and peaceful tradition of the Vietnamese people, and the policy of putting the past behind and looking to the future in relations with the United States. This is one of the pioneering areas of cooperation, helping to build goodwill and trust, opening the door to cooperation, and making an important contribution to the process of healing and developing Vietnam-US relations over the past half century.

Today, cooperation in searching for MIAs, along with cooperation activities to resolve the consequences of war in general, continues to play a fundamental role in the bilateral relationship. The Deputy Minister affirmed that Vietnam will continue to fully cooperate and create the most favorable conditions for the US side to carry out MIA activities in Vietnam in the spirit of humanity and the Vietnam-US Joint Statements agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders.

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van affirmed that Vietnam always creates the most favorable conditions for the US to carry out MIA operations. (Photo: Thanh Long)

DPAA Director Kelly McKeague expressed her joy in returning to visit Vietnam; emphasizing that the activities to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam, including the humanitarian activities to search for MIAs, have great significance in helping to heal the wounds of war caused to the people of the two countries, and at the same time serve as a bridge to improve and develop Vietnam-US relations, becoming a model in international relations.

On this occasion, on behalf of the US Government and families of US soldiers missing in action during the war in Vietnam, Director Kelly McKeague expressed deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Government, the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), and local authorities and people for creating favorable conditions and wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly helping to search for US soldiers missing in action during the war.

To date, with Vietnam's assistance, 740 cases of missing US servicemen's remains have been identified and returned to their families.

Director Kelly McKeague affirmed that he and DPAA will continue to contribute their voices so that the US Congress, Government and officials continue to support the stable development of Vietnam-US relations, maintain and expand programs to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam. He said that recently, DPAA has actively recommended that the US Government, after reviewing, soon restore projects on mine clearance, dioxin detoxification, support for people with disabilities and war victims, provide information and transfer DNA testing technology to serve the search for Vietnamese martyrs.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-hoa-ky-tiep-tuc-hop-tac-chat-che-khac-phuc-hau-qua-chien-tranh-320750.html