Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the Office ofthe Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement ofPost-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences head by Colonel LeDinh Vu attended a conference on war consequences and peace held by the USInstitute of Peace (USIP) in Washington D.C. on October 11-12.

The event aimed to share experience and provide information onthe cooperation in overcoming war aftermaths between the US and Vietnam, Laos andCambodia, so as to consider the possibility of applying the partnership with othercountries in the world, thus helping US policy-makers to design supportpolicies to promote future collaboration in the field.

It also discussed the relations between the US and SoutheastAsian countries as well as visions for the promotion of peace and security inthe region.

At the event, Colonel Vu shared the bomb, mine and toxic chemicalpollution situation in Vietnam as well as the cooperation outcomes between Vietnamand the US in this area.

He underlined the that in the future, the two sides shouldcontinue to increase cooperation in implementing a number of underway projects,including those to detoxify dioxin in Bien Hoa and Phu Cat airports, improvethe living conditions of people with disability in localities that heavilyaffected by Agent Orange/dioxin, and clear bomb and mine with a target ofcleaning 70,000-75,000 hectares of land each year.

During 10 years until 1971, the US army dropped about 80million litres of herbicide, of which AO made up 61 percent and containedroughly 366kg of dioxin which is among the most potent toxins known to mankind.

According to documents unveiled by the US Department ofDefence, over 434,000 gallons of AO containing about 11kg of dioxin weresprayed in A Luoi area of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue between 1965and 1970./.