Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, March 10 (VNA)-- Viet Nam and the United States signed here today a Memorandum of Understanding on joint scientific research on human health and environmental effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin, calling for the establishment of a joint commission.

The would-be commission, the participants said, would coordinate relevant scientific cooperation researches, consider and approve the contents of those projects, examine and assess their outcomes, and find ways to overcome the consequences found from the researches.

The MoU, as the outcome of Viet Nam- U.S. Scientific Conference on Human Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin held in Ha Noi from March 3-6, also provides for generation of financial sources and mechanism to promote relevant activities. The programme of cooperation in this field will be conducted on the basis of relevant provisions stipulated in the agreement of bilateral scientific and technological cooperation signed between the two Governments, in line with law of individual countries, and relevant international rules.

As a measure to promote cooperation, the participants, including Nguyen Ngoc Sinh from the Viet Nam Environmental Department, and Anne Sassaman, head of the U.S. mission, proposed to boost exchange of study tours and information between scientists from the two countries.--VNA