>>> Party chief receives Chairman of Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA Chairman John Bachtell made the pledge at a meeting with Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Rinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA), in Hanoi on April 5.
Thanking him for the warm welcome of the VAVA, Bachtell shared the responsibility of disseminating information on Vietnamese AO sufferers’ struggle for justice to US residents, especially the youth.
For his part, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Rinh voiced his gratitude for US communists’ sympathy with Vietnamese AO victims.
The Communist Party USA always stood on the side of Vietnam during the anti-US resistance war for national salvation, Rinh said, adding that in recent years, the Communist Party USA has also actively backed Vietnam’s struggle to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which was notably manifested through its resolute objection to China’s deployment of Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in Vietnamese waters in 2014.
The VAVA leader expressed his wish that the Communist Party USA would continue raising awareness among the US public on the suffering of Vietnamese AO victims and calling on all classes of US people to support their struggle for justice against US chemical companies.
At the meeting, the two sides believed that the working visit to Vietnam by a Communist Party USA senior delegation would lift relations between the two Parties to a new height, as well as enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, thereby contributing actively to the struggle for peace, development and social progress.
On the occasion, Communist Party USA Chairman John Bachtell presented the VAVA with a list of signatures of the US residents who support Vietnamese AO sufferers’ lawsuit for justice.
Vietnam has been suffering serious consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US troops during the war in Vietnam. About 4.8 million Vietnamese people have been exposed to toxic chemicals, with over three million AO victims. Hundreds of thousands of AO victims died and millions of others are living with severe consequences and fatal diseases.
Numerous efforts have been made by the Vietnamese Party, government and people over the past years to address the aftermaths of the AO disaster. Each year, Vietnam spends VND10 trillion (US$450 million) from the state budget to provide monthly subsidies and healthcare for AO victims as well as support the disadvantaged areas badly affected by toxic chemicals.
Recently, the US government has also supported Vietnam in environmental fumigation and mine clearance.
