Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, chaired the event, which was attended by representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei.
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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien addresses the event. |
More than 50 years ago, numerous Chinese military advisors sacrificed their lives during the struggle for Vietnam’s national liberation. Many were laid to rest in cemeteries across Vietnam. These cemeteries required urgent restoration due to weather and climate influences.
Based on the Central Party Committee's Secretariat’s directive and in agreement with China, Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense launched a comprehensive renovation plan.
The project covered 30 cemeteries in 14 provinces and cities, with a total of 1,460 graves. Of which, 22 cemeteries required restoration.
Seven military units and enterprises were assigned to carry out the renovation. By March 31, 2025, 19 out of 22 cemeteries had been restored and handed over to local authorities. Two additional cemeteries in the provinces of Lang Son and Phu Tho are expected to be completed by April 10, 2025.
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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hands over certificates of merit to outstanding collectives. |
Speaking at the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien hailed the efforts of the participating units, emphasizing their role in strengthening Vietnam-China relations. He instructed military regions to digitize and archive records of Chinese martyrs while working with local authorities to maintain the cemeteries. Besides, the Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense will invite Chinese veterans and families of the fallen soldiers to visit the sites.
For his part, Ambassador He Wei expressed deep gratitude to Vietnam’s government and military for their commitment to completing the cemetery renovation. He highlighted the project as a reflection of Vietnam’s beautiful tradition “When drinking water, remember its source” and a testament to the enduring friendship between the two nations.
On this occasion, Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense handed over certificates of merit to 25 organizations and 23 individuals for their outstanding contribution to the restoration of cemeteries of Chinese officers and advisors, who helped Vietnam during its revolutionary cause.
Translated by Minh Anh