US, Vietnam continue joint efforts to deal with war aftermath

The dialogue took place immediately after United States President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam which marked a new step in diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The event primarily focused on efforts to resolve the consequences of war and the impact on the process of promoting ties between both sides.

The dialogue is divided into different discussion sessions focusing on a number of issues, including searching for post-war remains, dealing with Agent Orange, supporting and clearing mines, carrying out generation connection projects in the youth community, applying digital technology in dealing with the consequences of war, along with cultural and creative approaches towards post-war healing.

This is viewed as an opportunity in which delegates can come together to exchange views and propose initiatives aimed at shaping future activities towards joint peace-building peace.

Tim Rieser, assistant to former Senator Patrick Laehy, one of the figures who made important contributions to boosting co-operation to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam, stated that collaboration in resolving the consequences of war is a typical example for other countries to follow. No country that was previously a former enemy has ever developed such links.

For many years, the country has spent a lot of time and effort helping the US search for American soldiers missing during the war.

That therefore opened the door to American war recovery programmes, starting with the Leahy War Victims Fund, a scheme that Senator Laehy initiated in the 1980s and has since expanded to resolve landmines left over from the war, which continues to be a major problem in some areas of the nation.

Each year sees the US provide millions of US$ to solve the problem of land mines left over from the war and Agent Orange and dioxin.

According to Rieser, these programmes have brought the two countries closer together, creating a foundation for reconciliation and co-operation, which has in turn led to President Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong announcing the upgrade of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in Hanoi. Schemes which address the consequences of war are at the heart of post-war ties between the two countries, he added.

The dialogue also gives a chance for delegates to share stories and personal experiences, thereby providing suggestions which can help enhance the overall effectiveness of the programmes to resolve the consequences of war between the two countries.

Ron Milam is a Vietnam veteran and currently works as the executive director of the Institute for Peace & Conflict (IPAC) at Texas Tech University.

At his workplace he is currently launching a broad array of activities to help families of Vietnamese martyrs find their loved ones' graves.

Milam said the institute has the world's largest archive of non-governmental records on the Vietnam War with about 30 million pages, including reports after each military operation from both the Vietnamese and American sides.

It is also looking for diaries and memorabilia and trying to return them to families in Vietnam through social networks and will do this as often as possible.

Overcoming the consequences of war has always been an important part of the relationship since the normalization of diplomatic ties back in 1995.

Both sides has pledged responsible co-operation in resolving humanitarian obligations and war legacies, viewing this the driving force in propelling mutual relations forward.