Vietnam regrets Paris court ruling on Tran To Nga’s AO/dioxin lawsuit: FM spokesperson
Vietnam expresses regret over the Paris Court of Appeal's ruling in the lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga against US manufacturers of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on August 22.
Tran To Nga speaks at a press conference (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam expresses regret over the Paris Court of Appeal's ruling in the lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga against US manufacturers of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on August 22.
"We have recently received information about this matter. Vietnam regrets the ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal and has repeatedly expressed its stance on the issue. Although the war has ended, its severe consequences continue to profoundly impact our country and people, including the long-term and serious effects of AO/dioxin."
Vietnam strongly supports victims of AO/dioxin and calls on the chemical companies that produced and supplied the toxin to the US during the war in Vietnam, which has caused millions of Vietnamese to suffer, to take responsibility for the damage, she emphasised.
Since 2014, Nga, a French-Vietnamese citizen and AO/dioxin victim, has filed a lawsuit at the Évry Court in a Paris suburb. The lawsuit against US chemical corporations was adjudicated in 2021. However, the Évry Court dismissed the case, citing that the companies were entitled to "sovereign immunity" as they acted under orders from the US government, thus the court did not have jurisdiction over actions by a foreign sovereign state. On May 7 this year, the Paris Court of Appeal held a hearing for Nga’s case against the 14 US chemical companies, including Monsanto, for producing and selling dioxin-laden herbicides used by US forces during the war in Vietnam. On August 22, the court issued a ruling similar to that of the Évry Court.
Also at the press briefing, in response to a reporter's question about UK media reports suggesting that British citizens might face exit bans or passport confiscations in Vietnam, Hang stated: "We completely reject such misinformation.”
Vietnam’s consistent policy is to facilitate the entry, exit, and residence of foreigners in the country, thus contributing to economic and social development, she said.
Recently, Vietnamese authorities have implemented various measures to ease travel for foreigners coming to the nation for educ📖ation, work, investment, market exploration, and tourism in accordance with Vietnamese law./.
Ruling on the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese-French Tran To Nga against 14 US chemical corporations that supplied Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin for the US army during the war in Vietnam is scheduled to be issued on August 22, the Court of Appeal of Paris announced after a hearing on May 7.
More than 200 overseas Vietnamese and French friends gathered with various organisations at the Place de la République in Paris on May 4 to express their support for Vietnamese-French Tran To Nga and Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims of Vietnam in a lawsuit against chemical companies that supplied herbicides to the US military during the war in Vietnam.
During the years of the anti-American resistance, Tran To Nga participated in the fight in the South and was exposed to the toxic dioxin, also known as Agent Orange, a chemical used by the U.S. military during the war in Vietnam.
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Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
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Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
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