(VNF) - U.S. veterans have promised to continue their support for Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims and promote friendly relations between the two countries’ veterans and people.

A delegation from the Veterans for Peace (VFP) made the commitment during its meeting with Mr. Don Tuan Phong, Vice President in-charge cum Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in Hanoi on March 7^th.

At the meeting. (Photo: Thuy Linh)

The 14-member delegation led by its Vice President Chuck Searcy, is visiting Vietnam from March 5^th to 21^st in its annual spring tour.

Mr. Phong welcomed the U.S. war veteran delegation to visit Vietnam, and recognised their active contributions to healing the pain of war between the two countries in the past.

He updated the VFP delegation on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, its foreign policy as well as the Vietnam-U.S. relationship.

He briefed the guests on the activities of the VUFO and the Vietnam-U.S. Society in boosting relations between the Vietnamese people and their counterparts in other nations, including the U.S.

Mr. Phong called on the two countries to increase mutual understanding, friendship and collaboration via enhancing people-to-people exchanges and joining hands to actively address war aftermath.

VUFO Vice President in-charge cum Secretary General, Mr. Don Tuan Phong speaks at the meeting. (Photo: Thuy Linh)

He also shared that much is left to be done to overcome the consequences of the war for the Vietnamese. He added that it is more important to head for the future, trying our best so that our next generations will never have to suffer any wars.

VFP Vice President, Chuck Searcy said all members from the war veteran delegation have a common goal of protesting against war and healing the pain of war in Vietnam as well as promoting peace and friendship between the two nations.

He said the group will visit recovery, assistance projects supported by VFP and meet with Vietnamese families and war veterans struggling with AO/Dioxin, unexploded ordinance and poverty, adding that the visit provided a good chance for VFP members to return to Vietnam to see drastic changes in this war-torn land.

Mr. Phong and VFP delegation pose for a photo. (Photo: Thuy Linh)

Some veterans said they joined the organization to call on those who once joined the war to raise their voice against war because war has never been and will never be the answer, for both winners and losers.

They added that they are very happy and willing to contribute to dealing with issues related to AO and unexplored ordnance victims.

Each year since 2012 members of Vietnam’s Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 of VFP invite veterans, non-vet spouses and peace activists to come to Vietnam every Spring for a two-week tour. The 2017 group is its sixth annual tour./.

Translated by Minh Phuong