Vietnam and China coordinate search for martyrs' remains

On January 4, in Beijing (China), the delegation of the National Steering Committee for the Search and Collection of Vietnamese Martyrs' Remains, led by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Permanent Deputy Head of the Committee, held talks with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China, led by Deputy Minister Dou Yubai.

The Vietnamese delegation also included Senior Lieutenant General Phuong Minh Hoa, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; Standing member of the Vietnam National Steering Committee on searching for and collecting martyrs' remains; representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in China; and Vietnamese Defense Attaché in China.

Overview of the seminar

At the meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung thanked the enthusiastic and thoughtful reception that the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China gave to the delegation and proposed a number of issues for the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China to report to the Chinese Government, such as: Directing relevant localities, organizations and individuals to review and conclude information on the graves of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army who died and are currently buried in China and notify the Vietnamese side through diplomatic channels.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung handed over the list of Vietnamese martyrs who died and are being buried in China to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

Propose that the Chinese Government support the policy for Vietnam to excavate and repatriate the remains of 19 Vietnamese People's Army officers and soldiers who were trained and assisted by China during the resistance against the French and the Americans and are currently buried in China; direct competent authorities and localities to coordinate with competent authorities of Vietnam to survey, review, and conclude information on the number, list, and burial places of the remains of Vietnamese soldiers who died while coordinating with the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the Thap Van Dai Son campaign (from 1949 to 1950).

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung also informed the Chinese side about the situation of the graves of Chinese soldiers who died and are being buried in Vietnam. Through that, the two sides coordinated and agreed to propose to the two governments about the next policies and solutions.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung handed over the list of Vietnamese martyrs who died and are being buried in China to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

Comrade Dau Ngoc Bai welcomed the visit and work in China of the Vietnamese delegation and requested the National Steering Committee on the search and collection of remains of Vietnamese martyrs within the scope of its functions to coordinate with relevant agencies and direct localities to continue managing and taking care of martyr cemeteries burying Chinese soldiers who died in Vietnam; to assist and create favorable conditions for civil servants, diplomats, relatives of martyrs, people approved by China... when applying for entry visas to visit the graves of Chinese soldiers who are buried in Vietnam or requesting to be provided with information...

After discussion, the two heads of delegations noted each side's opinions and will report to the two governments for direction. The two sides also agreed to establish a cooperation and information exchange mechanism. Accordingly, annually, the two sides will hold meetings in each country to discuss the following contents: Review and count cases of sacrifice and death; propose policies, plans, and measures for implementation and report to the two governments for consideration and decision.

According to QĐND Online