US Institute of Peace hosts dialogue on war legacies and peace in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
(VOVWORLD) - The third annual dialogue on "War legacies and peace in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia" was held by the US Institute of Peace (USIP) on Friday and Saturday to discuss regional cooperation, an initiative to count the deceased and missing in the Vietnam war; and diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.
 Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, held in New York in September, 2024. (Photo: Lam Khanh/ VNA) |
Other topics included support for disabled survivors in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; cooperation on war legacy exhibits at the War Remnants Museum; and mine clearance and environmental rehabilitation.
This year’s event marked a significant milestone as Vietnam and the US are celebrating the first anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and looking ahead to the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties in 2025.
As the largest event of its kind to date, the dialogue convened, in person or online, 150 delegates, including representatives of USIP; the US Congress, Department of State, and Department of Defense; and diplomatic representatives from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the Committee has allocated 73 million USD to assist with mine clearance in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
He pledged to support Vietnam’s efforts and programmes addressing bomb and mine clearance, aiding victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and children with disabilities, and locating soldiers from both sides still missing in action.