(VOVworld)- The US will double its assistance for bomb and mine clearance in Vietnam, said the US Department of State in its annual report on efforts to deal with bomb, mines and explosives all over the world. Speaking to VOV’s correspondent in the US, Assistant Secretary of State for Political- Military Affairs Puneet Talwar said the US has a strong commitment to helping Vietnam deal with explosives left over from the war. US Secretary of State John Kerry signed an MOU during a visit to Vietnam last December. Mr. Talwar said Vietnam has always been one of US’s top priorities. Since 1993, the US has spent 70 million USD to help Vietnam deal with this challenge.

Mr. Talwar said that in 2015, the US will double its assistance for Vietnam to deal with this problem. The US is now conducting a pilot project to reduce the danger of bombs and cluster bombs in Quang Tri within 5 years. The US official described this as remarkable progress and said the model will be replicated in other localities in Vietnam. He said the project is expected to shorten the time needed to eliminate bombs, mines and other explosive left over from the war in Vietnam.

Puneet said the US and Vietnamese governments are accelerating activities to help bomb and mine victims.

Nhat Quynh- VOV correspondent in Washington DC