A ceremony has been held in Hanoi to announce the project for receiving bomb and mine clearance equipment funded by Japan for the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC).
Speaking at the February 28 event, Colonel Le Quang Hop, Deputy General Director of VNMAC, noted that the project includes the acquisition of four specialised pieces of equipment for mine clearance, as well as training and technology transfer. The initiative will provide hands-on training and technical guidance for VNMAC personnel on the latest demining technologies.
This project is a priority in Vietnam’s 2010-2025 national mine action programme, aimed at minimising the impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from wartime.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki recalled that on December 21, 2024, he and Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence, signed an exchange of notes in Hanoi for the provision of mine clearance equipment for Vietnam. The initiative, valued at 500 million JPY (3.31 million USD), is part of Japan’s non-refundable aid programme for VNMAC.
The ambassador expressed his hope that the project will enhance Vietnam’s demining efforts, ensuring safer living conditions for communities in affected areas and fostering economic and social development.
Chien, for his part, expressed deep gratitude to the Japanese Government and people for their meaningful support and highlighted Japan as a long-standing and important partner of Vietnam.
He noted that over more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Vietnam-Japan cooperation has yielded numerous positive and remarkable achievements, particularly in development projects supported by Japan for Vietnam.
The deputy minister affirmed that the modern equipment provided by Japan will significantly improve the country’s demining capabilities, accelerate the national mine action programme, and strengthen VNMAC’s role in UXO remediation and environmental protection.
