Belgian Delegation visits and works with VAVA’s Central Committee

President Chinh expressed his joy and respect for meeting and working with the delegation. At the meeting, he informed the delegation about the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin used by the US during the war in Vietnam on both the environment and people; the circumstances of generations of Vietnamese AO victims; the organizational structure of VAVA and the care and efforts of the Party, State and people of Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of Agent Orange.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Andre' Flahaut stressed that: The resolution to support Vietnamese AO victims that he submitted to the Belgian Federal Parliament in December 2021 received absolute support from both left and right-wing parties, demonstrating the concern, support, and sympathy of the Belgian people for Vietnamese people and AO victims. This is also a special resolution, attracting the attention of world public opinion, because this is the first time in the world a parliament passed a resolution supporting Vietnamese AO victims. This can increase public opinion and awareness so that the international community can better understand the consequences of Agent Orange on the environment and people in Vietnam. At the same time, it is also a premise for other parliaments in the world to pass similar ones supporting Vietnamese AO victims. The resolution to support Vietnamese AO victims demonstrates not only humanity but also the solidarity between the two countries. Mr. Andre' Flahaut hopes that in the coming time, the two sides will strengthen more the multifaceted and practical cooperation to help Vietnamese AO victims.

On behalf of VAVA’s Central Committee and Vietnamese AO Victims, President Chinh expressed his sincere and deep gratitude to Mr. Flahaut and the delegation for their efforts in mobilizing, supporting and helping Vietnamese AO Victims. He hoped that with their position and prestige, Mr. Flahaut and the members of the delegation would continue to take actions to mobilize and persuade other parliaments in the world to pass such resolutions in support of the Vietnamese AO Victims as the Belgian Parliament did.

At the meeting, the delegation also spent time listening about the organization of VAVA; the number, circumstances, physical condition, diseases, complications, and infections of generations of Vietnamese AO victims; and the policies of the Vietnamese government in providing medical assistance to AO victims.

At the invitation of President Chinh, on May 20, the delegation visited a number of AO victims' social protection centers to learn more about the circumstances of the AO victims. This will provide a practical and convincing source of information for the members of the delegation to propagate to the Belgian and international people so that they will understand more and sympathize with the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin that the Vietnamese people have suffered.

Dinh Trong