Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VNA) National Assembly Vice Chairman Tong Thi Phong received visiting US Senator Christopher S. Bond in Hanoi on January 11. At the reception, the NA Vice Chairman said she was pleased with the current developing ties between Vietnam and the US as well as the effective cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments in sharing law-making experiences.

She expressed her wish that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to expand their cooperation and hold more dialogues on such issues as energy, environment, crime prevention and addressing the war consequences.

Phong noted that the US Congress has approved a budget of 3 million USD to help Vietnam clean up dioxin contaminated areas around the Da Nang Airport . However, long-term sustainable solutions to the issues will cost an estimated 45 million USD, including spending on detoxification and afforestation in contaminated areas and treatment and care costs for AO victims, she said, adding that the two sides should continue talks to address the issue.

For his part, Senator Bond congratulated Vietnam on its assumption of the ASEAN Chair this year and said that besides the cooperation between the two countries, cooperation between the US and ASEAN is very important.

On the same day, the US senator was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, who said that the two countries should continue boosting their cooperation, especially in economics and education.

Senator Bond said his visit is to study possibilities of cooperation between US and Vietnamese businesses, especially small- and medium sized enterprises. He said he would work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on cooperation in agricultural research and bean production./.