AO Victims Grateful to British PM

Gifts comprised a selection of beautiful hand-embroidered linen and colourful hand-painted pictures made by the AO child victims.

British Prime Minister David Cameron (right), Secretary of the Britain-Viet Nam Friendship Society, Len Aldis (left) with Member of Parliarment George Howarth (behind) receive gifts from Vietnamese Agent Orange victims yesterday.— Photo Le Duong

(LONDON VNS) - The British Prime Minster David Cameron yesterday received touching hand-made gifts from Vietnamese Agent Orange victims as thanks for supporting their fundraiser.

The appreciative tokens, described by Cameron as "beautiful", were presented to the PM in his office by the Secretary of the Britain-Viet Nam Friendship Society, Len Aldis.

Aldis, who visted Viet Nam in August to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the spraying of Agent Orange, was asked by the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) to present the gifts in person.

The gifts comprised a selection of beautiful hand-embroidered linen and colourful hand-painted pictures made by the AO child victims from Hoa Binh Village, Tu Du Hospital in HCM City and children from the Cancer Hospital in Da Nang City.

Earlier, the British All Party Parliament Group on Viet Nam (APPG) and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK organised a reception to celebrate the growing ties between the two countries, as well as an auction to raise funds for AO victims on June 18 this year at Portcullis House.

Items sold at the auction were donated by a number of businesses and individuals, including leaders from the three major parties in British parliament. Each leader gave their favourite book up for auction and personally signed them. — VNS