The signing ceremony inHanoi on July 8 was attended by VietnameseDeputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J.Kritenbrink and Director of USAID office in Vietnam Michael Greene.
Under the MOI, the USAID will partner with the VNOSMPto fund a new three to five year, 2.4-million-USD project, which aims tosupport Vietnam’s efforts to find and identify Vietnamese soldiersmissing during wartime.
The USAID willprovide Vietnam with the cutting edge technology for DNA extraction andanalysis, work with Vietnam to increase the effectiveness and efficiency oftheir laboratories, and ultimately increase the number of remains that can be accurately reunited with their families.
Speaking atthe ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Son said the MOI was signed in a specialoccasion when Vietnam and the US are celebrating the 25th anniversary of theirdiplomatic relations.
The twocountries’ cooperation in searching for soldiers missing during wartime has played an active part in beefing upthe bilateral ties over recent years and at the same time, helped both sidesunderstand more about each other’s goodwill, thus fostering expansion ofpartnership in other areas, Son said.
Vietnam willcontinue actively and effectively cooperating with the US in this matter, he affirmed./.