More American tourists arrive in Vietnam


Washington, May 22 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has become a prominent destination for U.S. tourists in recent years.

The number of U.S. tourists to Viet Nam reached 230,000 last year, an increase of 58 percent over the number five years ago. These gains were attributed to Viet Nam's open-door policy, beautiful landscapes, unique cultures, and hospitality.

Vietnam asks to abolish article on basa catfish in US Agr. Act


Ha Noi May 17 (VNA)- Viet Nam's Trade Minister Vu Khoan has asked the United States to cancel an absurd regulation that harmfully limits Viet Nam's trading activities and constitutes an impediment to the implementation of the Viet Nam - US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

Mr. Khoan, in response to the U.S. Congress's recent adoption of Act HR 2646, in support of agricultural development, and its ratification by the US President, described the Act's article relating to Viet Nam's trademark "basa" catfish as a severe violation of the BTA.

Gov't activities to implement Vietnam-US BTA

On May 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswomen Phan Thuy Thanh answered question from Bloomberg: What is Vietnam assessment of the implementation of Vietnam- US Trade Agreement?

Answer:

To effectively implement the Agreement, since the signing of the agreement, the Vietnamese Government has undertaken numerous activities including:

- Widely propagating the contents of the Agreement in the country, especially in business circle;

Vietnamese and US veterans cooperate in seeking MIA

Senior Vietnamese and US war veterans have pledged to strengthen their co-operation in the search for servicemen from both sides still listed as missing in action.

Lieutenan Genenal Vu Xuan Vinh, permanent member of the Vietnam War Veterans Association (VWVA)'s Central Committee, assured the visiting delegation of the US Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of VWVA's plan to continue with its humanitarian activities in the search for US MIAs.

He took the occasion to provide the US side with recent information on a number of American MIAs.

Vietnam hands over remains of American MIA


Da Nang, Mar. 14 (VNA) -- The remains of two American servicemen listed as missing in action were handed over to the U.S. Full Accounting Joint Task Force (JTF-FA) representative by a representative of the Viet Nam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) at Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang today, Mar. 14.

The remains were found during the 68th Viet Nam-U.S. search, which took nearly one month, from Jan. 10 to Feb. 5. They were examined primarily by Vietnamese and American forensic experts in Ha Noi.

American veteran willing to help in human recovery in VN


Washington, March 13 (VNA)-- An American soldier who served in Cam Ranh Bay during 1966-67 during the war against Viet Nam has written to the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, expressing his willingness to "help in the human recovery and the people to people friendship" in Viet Nam.

His letter reads "Today, we are learning more about the effects of war and human suffering. I hope that our two countries can come to realise that a human bond is more important than our differences and that working together can produce better ends to help bridge a difficult gap."

U.S should take moral responsibility for addressing war aftermath


Ha Noi, Mar. 11 (VNA) -- The United States has a spiritual and moral responsibility to help Viet Nam settle war legacies, including those caused by Agent Orange/Dioxin, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh, in Ha Noi on Mar. 11.

Vietnam and U.S sign MOU on joint agent orange research

Ha Noi, March 10 (VNA)-- Viet Nam and the United States signed here today a Memorandum of Understanding on joint scientific research on human health and environmental effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin, calling for the establishment of a joint commission.

The would-be commission, the participants said, would coordinate relevant scientific cooperation researches, consider and approve the contents of those projects, examine and assess their outcomes, and find ways to overcome the consequences found from the researches.

American veterans regret for their deeds during Vietnam war


Washington, Mar. 11 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam war ended for nearly three decades but what it left behind is enormous, ranging from physical pains to psychological agonies for not only Vietnamese veterans but also their American peers.

A Viet Nam News Agency correspondent in Washington reported that the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington has recently received letters from American veterans in the Viet Nam war apologising and asking for forgiveness for what they did in the war.

Statement of joint committee for VN-US conference on Agent Orange

Ha Noi, Mar. 6 (VNA) -- The Joint Organizing Committee for the Viet Nam-U.S. Scientific Conference on Human Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin issued a statement at the closing session of the three-day conference in Ha Noi today, Mar. 6.

Following is the full text of the statement:

"Researchers from 19 countries reported results from almost 100 studies on the health and environmental effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin in this first open international conference held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, by two countries, Viet Nam and the United States.

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