The meeting between Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ho Chi Minh City on October 17 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of NationalDefence, received his US counterpart James Mattis in Ho Chi Minh City on October 17.
At the meeting, Lich applauded the US’s cooperation in dioxin decontamination inVietnam over the past time, stressing that Vietnam will focus on overcoming warconsequences, including the detoxification of dioxin contaminated areas,especially at Bien Hoa airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.
He proposed the US side actively collaborate with Vietnam in the coming time tosoon implement and complete a project on dioxin treatment at Bien Hoa airport inorder to clean up contaminated land, contributing to fostering economicdevelopment in Vietnam.
For his part, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis affirmed his commitment toenhancing bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in maritime security, humanitarianaid, disaster relief, peacekeeping missions and overcoming war consequences.
He added the outcome of this visit will lay a foundation for the US Government andCongress to continue supporting Vietnam in surmounting the post-war consequencesrelated to dioxin.
Earlier, the US Secretary of Defence visited the dioxin treatment area in BienHoa airport, where the National Steering Committee on the Settlement ofPost-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Steering Committee701) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are jointlyimplementing a project on dioxin remediation.
Bien Hoa airport is considered as one of the dioxin hot spots in the country withabout 500,000 cubic metres of dioxin contaminated land. Since 2010, theGovernment has assigned the Ministry of National Defence to direct theimplementation of many dioxin treatment projects at the airport, including theconstruction of infrastructure to address dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa airport.
The 270 billion VND (11.8 million USD) project kicked off on September 16, 2017,focusing on disarming war-time mines and bombs, building roads, zoning offdioxin contaminated areas and removing organisations and military works fromthe new detected squalid regions.
On May 11, 2018, USAID and the Air Defence – Air Force Service under theVietnamese Defence Ministry signed an agreement on non-refundable aid for environmentalremediation for dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa airport. The project,estimated to cost 390 million USD, will complete within 10 years.-VNA
Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence, hosted a reception on August 20 for Commanding General of the US Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) Gen. Robert B. Brown.
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang on August 29 visited the US Centre in the city to pay tribute to US Senator John Sidney McCain III and write in the funeral book in memory of the deceased.
Vietnamese and American veteran pilots, who were once enemies of each other in the air during the anti-US war, reunited in Hanoi on October 3 for the third time.
Vietnam and the US convened a defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on October 4, discussing measures to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral defence cooperation.
Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The meeting between Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ho Chi Minh City on October 17 (Photo: VNA) 
