The governments of Vietnam and the United States today signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) paving the way for cleanup of dioxin at Danang Airport.

An official from Agent Orange victims\' Association of Danang looking over a surrounding wall at the area believed to have been contaminated since the Vietnam war. Photo by AFP

The MOI between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment of the Ministry of National Defense, Vietnam’s ministry responsible for remediation, confirms the mutual desire of both governments to cooperate in hopes that cleanup can begin in July 2011 and be completed in October 2013.

“The United States and Vietnam have achieved a level of cooperation that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago,” said U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak, noting that the MOI and cooperation on dioxin cleanup in Danang is, “An excellent example of our ability to work together constructively to resolve war legacy issues and to build a partnership that continues to grow stronger.”

The governments of the United States and Vietnam have worked together since 2001 to address potential environmental and health issues related to Agent Orange/dioxin. Since 2007, the U.S. Government has provided $23.3 million for environmental, health, and disabilities activities in Danang in addition to other programs throughout Vietnam.