Nghe An signs cooperation agreement to search and collect martyrs' remains in the 2022-2023 dry season with 3 Lao provinces

Attending the meeting, the representative of Steering Committee 515 of Military Region 4 was Major General Tran Minh Thanh - Political Commissar.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Special Work Committee; Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of the Provincial Special Work Committee; Senior Colonel Pham Van Dong - Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee 515 of Nghe An province; and representatives of a number of relevant departments and branches.

On the Lao PDR side, there were comrades: Si Vi Lay Seng Cha Lon - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Work Committee of Xieng Khouang province; Lieutenant General Vong Xon In Pan Phim - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Special Work Committee of Xay Xom Bum province; Phu Vong Bun Xu - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Work Committee of Vientiane province, and members of the delegation.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the dry season of 2021 - 2022, the Collection Team of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command proactively overcame difficulties, conducted surveys, searches, recovered and brought back to Vietnam 103 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in 3 provinces: Xieng Khouang, Vientiane and Xay Xom Bun, Lao PDR; reaching 128.75% of the set plan.

During the implementation of the mission, the Special Working Group of 4 provinces in general, the Collection Team, and the Military Command of Nghe An province in particular have always received the attention, leadership, and direction of the Special Working Group of 2 Governments, the Ministries of Defense of the 2 countries, the High Command, the Steering Committee 515 of Military Region 4, and the special help and attention of the Party Committees, authorities, armed forces, and people of Laos in general, and the 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun in particular.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of the Provincial Special Working Group presented a report on the results of coordination in implementing the plan to collect martyrs' graves in the dry season of 2021 - 2022; and the expected plan for the dry season of 2022 - 2023. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Special Working Group of the 4 provinces regularly reported on the implementation results, promptly exchanged experiences, proposed specific directions, plans and measures close to the actual situation, strengthened propaganda and mobilized people in the 3 provinces: Xieng Khouang, Vientiane and Xay Xom Bun to actively provide information, participate in guiding and pointing graves.

At the meeting, the leaders of the three provinces of Laos agreed and highly agreed with the results of the coordination in implementing the plan to collect martyrs' graves in the dry season of 2021 - 2022 and the cooperation plan and targets set for the dry season of 2022 - 2023. In the coming time, the leaders of the three provinces of Laos affirmed that they will continue to closely coordinate with Nghe An to effectively implement the proposed plan.

Comrade: Si Vi Lay Seng Cha Lon - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Working Group of Xieng Khouang Province, Laos, speaking at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Lieutenant General Vong Xon In Pan Phim - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Special Working Group of Xay Xom Bum province spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long - Head of Nghe An Province's Special Working Group sincerely thanked the cooperation of the three Lao provinces over the past years in searching for and collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in the three provinces.

To effectively carry out the work of searching and collecting martyrs' remains in the dry season of 2022 - 2023, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long requested that the three provinces of Laos continue to coordinate closely in leading and directing the implementation of the proposed plan; at the same time, he requested to continue to widely propagate to officials and people to actively provide information, participate in guiding the search for martyrs' graves and ensure the safety of the search and collection forces during the operation.

Comrade Phu Vong Bun Xu - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Working Group of Vientiane Province spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Special Working Committee of Nghe An province spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

In a warm atmosphere, mutual understanding, high sense of responsibility and past experience, the leaders of Nghe An province and 3 provinces of Lao PDR agreed on the issues to be discussed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Special Working Group of Nghe An province and 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Xay Xom Bun on searching and collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

Head of the Special Task Force of Nghe An province and the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun signed a Memorandum of Understanding on searching for and collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos in the 2022-2023 dry season. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of Nghe An province and the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun expressed their determination to coordinate and strive to complete and exceed the set targets. Photo: Thanh Duy

In particular, the 4 provinces of the 2 countries agreed to strive to complete and exceed the set target of searching for and collecting 80 martyrs' remains in the 2022-2023 dry season; thereby, contributing to further deepening the great friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam "forever green, forever sustainable".