Hanoi (VNA) –The Ministry of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Vietnam Association of Victims ofAgent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) inked an agreement in Hanoi on September 20 tofurther their coordination in supporting AO victims and protecting their rightsand interests.

The coordination will focus on communications workto accelerate the implementation of policies towards AO victims and jointefforts to take care of AO victims at rehabilitation and welfare centres.

Between 2017-2020, the two sides will work togetherto provide vocational training and generate jobs for AO victims, helping them gainstable incomes and integrate into society, while expanding external activitiesto raise international community’s awareness of consequences of the toxicchemical in Vietnam, thus mobilising their support for Vietnamese AO victims.

VAVA President Nguyen Van Rinh said over the pasttime, the two sides coordinated to advise the Party and the State on policiestowards people who rendered great services to the nation in general and war veteransexposed to toxic chemicals in particular.

They also tied up to organise activities marking WarInvalids and Martyrs Day (July 27) and AO Victims Day (August 10), he added.

Vietnam has about 3 million AO victims, of whom320,000 and their children are entitle for State’s support.

MOLISA suggested the VAVA to contribute its opinionson revising the ordinance on national contributors, which will expand the scopeof beneficiaries to those who fought in the resistance war during 1974-1975,children and grandchildren of revolutionary contributors exposed to dioxin, andpolicies for later generations of dead AO victims.-VNA