Representatives from Việt Nam and Laos exchange the meeting's minute. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY – Việt Nam's search teams located and collected the remains of 184 martyrs in Laos over the last dry season, with nine identified by name and hometown, a meeting of the special joint task forces of the Vietnamese and Lao governments has been told.

At the meeting on Monday in HCM City, which was the 29th time the two sides had met, officials discussed the search, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General and the head of the Vietnamese task force Võ Minh Lương, spoke of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States and people of Việt Nam and Laos. Together they have formed the foundation for their development and standing on the international stage, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

In response, Deputy Minister of National Defence and head of the Lao task force Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong, affirmed that the Lao Party, Government, army, and people always remember and appreciate the Vietnamese side’s significant support for the country in its past struggle for national independence and current phase of national construction and development.

As heard at the meeting, the nations’ special task forces and local authorities have regularly coordinated to promptly resolve any challenges in the organisation and execution of the search and repatriation mission. The Lao side assisted Việt Nam’s search teams in all activities and encouraged locals to provide details about possible burial sites.

Việt Nam and Laos agreed that across the 2024-25 dry season, they will collaborate until no further information about burial sites is available. Additionally, efforts will be intensified to promote and encourage the citizens of both countries to provide information about the martyrs and their graves, with their special task forces and provincial military commands tasked with conducting regular exchanges. VNS