PANO – The Special Committees on search, collection and repatriation of remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer experts and troops of the Vietnamese Government and Cambodian Government resumed the 15th session on July 25 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Defense Minister-cum-Chairman of the Vietnamese Government Special Committee, Lieutenant General Le Chiem while the Cambodian delegation was headed by Advisor to the Cambodian Government and Deputy Chairman of the Cambodian Government Special Committee Seang Lapress.

Addressing the meeting, Lieutenant General Le Chiem highly appreciated the Cambodian Government and people for their supporting the Vietnamese side in searching, collecting and repatriating the remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer experts and troops, saying that the Cambodian Government Special Committee directed involved agencies and organizations to support the Vietnamese side effectively.

The signing ceremony

During the 2015-16 dry season, the two sides collaborated closely and collected 748 sets of remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer experts and troops. This has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and good deed of the Cambodian Government and people as well as friendship and unity between the two countries and peoples, the Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister stressed.

He then thanked the Cambodian Government, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, military units, authorities at all levels and people for their effective supports for Vietnamese special teams in implementing their missions of searching, collecting and repatriating the remains of fallen Vietnamese experts and troops in the country.

For his part, the Advisor to the Cambodian Government pledged that the Cambodian Government Special Committee will do its utmost to support the Vietnamese side in implementing their mission.

At the meeting, the two sides signed the minute of the working session, highly valuing the results over the past year and affirming to continue collaborating closely with each other so as to achieve the best outcomes in the future.

The two sides also agreed to promote public education and information on the good deed and mobilize more local organizations and people to provide maps and information on the burying locations of fallen Vietnamese volunteer experts and troops, and directly participate in search, collection and repatriation of remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer experts and troops.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Lieutenant General Le Chiem handed over a sum of money to the Cambodian Government Special Committee so as it can have additional budget for its operations in the 2016-17 season.

Translated by Thu Nguyen