Vietnam debuts National Mine Action Centre

Construction on the VNMAC was inaugurated in April last yearr, on an area of over 5.2 hectares of land with investment of VND415 billion. Apart from offices for work and research, the centre also has a space for bomb and mine display.

Addressing the ceremony at the centre, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Minister of National Defence and Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee of the Vietnam National Mine Action Program (Steering Committee 504), said that after experiencing successive wars, the Vietnamese land and people are suffering the serious consequences caused by a large number of unexploded bombs and mines remaining. After the war ended, despite national difficulties, the Vietnamese Party, State and Government have taken diverse measures to overcome the consequences, according to General Lich.

He added that the completion of VNMAC centre would help make more favourable conditions in overcoming the bomb and mine consequences, and assist the Steering Committee 504 in coordinating resources and international cooperation in the mitigation of bomb and mine consequences.

“The VNMAC should continuously increase its ability and work strictly with foreign partners, looking towards the building of a centre meeting regional and international standards,” he went on to say./.