Belgian Embassy and VAVA visited and worked in Dong Nai province

The delegation visited and worked at the People's Committee of Dong Nai province.

Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche; Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province; Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin attended the meeting and visited 3 "An Vui Mart" stores sponsored by the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 (Kingdom of Belgium), aiming to generate income for the victims, and help their families integrate into the community. Leaders of a number of departments and branches of Dong Nai province also attended the meeting.

Presenting a symbolic plaque to support the AO victims in Dong Nai province

On behalf of the local leaders, the Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee welcomed the Ambassador, the leaders of the VAVA’s Central Committee and the members of the working delegation to visit and work in Dong Nai province, and introduced the potential and strengths in socio-economic development of the locality. Accordingly, after the new province was established and implementing a 2-level local government, Dong Nai province boast an area of 12,736 km², a population of over 4.5 million people, convenient routes for transportation and trade, especially when Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation. It is expected to remain a dynamic economic hub in the coming time.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium and Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh visited AO victims in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province

Dong Nai province is currently home to 52 industrial parks and 1 border economic zone, including 2 projects of the Kingdom of Belgium with a total investment of 6.5 million USD. The province always focuses on expanding foreign relations, strengthening cooperation with foreign partners, localities and territories, including the Kingdom of Belgium. Recently, the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 delegation has made working trips to Dong Nai; worked with provincial leaders and functional agencies, to learn about investment projects, demonstrating the deep concern of the Belgian partners in sustainable development of the province.

Presenting a symbolic plaque to support families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province

Speaking at the meeting, the Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam and Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh expressed and highly appreciated the concern of the Kingdom of Belgium in strengthening cooperation in socio-economic development and participating in overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam, including Dong Nai province. The Belgian Chamber of Representatives is the first parliament in the world to pass a Resolution on supporting Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam in October 2023. The establishment and operation of the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 is an important event, facilitating the implementation of projects to address the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin on the environment and humans. Haemers Technologies, an environmental technology company based in Belgium, is willing to bring advanced detoxification technology to Vietnam, contributing to the effective treatment of Agent Orange/dioxin residues after war. The cooperation between the Kingdom of Belgium and Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals and helping victims of Agent Orange is not only a noble gesture, but also contributes to strengthening the friendly and close cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Delegates attend the opening of a convenience store for families of AO victims in Tran Bien ward

In particular, in April 2025, the King and Queen of Belgium paid a State visit to Vietnam and had many meaningful activities for AO victims in Vietnam. During the visit, State President Luong Cuong and King Philippe witnessed the exchange of the Agreement in Principle between VAVA and the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 of the Kingdom of Belgium, contributing to promoting the joint efforts of the two countries to address the long-term consequences of toxic chemicals after war and effectively support Vietnamese AO victims. The Belgian Ambassador and Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh hope that leaders of Dong Nai province will continue to pay attention to the alleviation the consequences of toxic chemicals after war and have substantial social security policies to assist the AO victims.

Delegates visit the convenience store of the families of Agent Orange victims in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai province

Leaders of Dong Nai province highly appreciated the working visit of the delegation, especially the pilot model of community convenience store, namely "An Vui Mart" to create sustainable livelihoods, increase income, stabilize the lives of families of AO victims, while serving as a point of connection for community sharing, multiplying noble deeds. The leaders of the province hope that this model will continue to be replicated, and Dong Nai province is committed to creating favorable conditions to support the implementation of initiatives and cooperation projects between Belgian organizations and enterprises and functional agencies and units of the province, thereby strengthening the friendly, substantive and effective cooperation between Dong Nai province and the Kingdom of Belgium.

The joy of the Belgian Ambassador and the families of AO victims on the opening day of the convenience store

On the afternoon of July 23, the delegation of the Belgian Embassy and the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 visited and worked with the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. The leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Union of Friendship Organizations of Ho Chi Minh City and Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Vice President of VAVA and President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin received the delegation, sincerely thanked the Belgian Parliament for passing the Resolution supporting the Vietnamese AO Victims; hoped that organizations and individuals of the Kingdom of Belgium, including the Ambassador and the Aquitara Impact Fund 1, would continue to support the Association and Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, especially in implementing programs and projects to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin and helping Victims of Agent Orange in a sustainable manner, joining hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange.

The delegation visited and worked at the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

According to the plan, on July 24, the delegation continued their activities in Ho Chi Minh City./.

By: QUAN THUY