Vietnamese and US officials at the ceremony in Đà Nẵng on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A ceremony for the repatriation of US soldiers missing in action in Việt Nam was held at Đà Nẵng International Airport on Wednesday.

The event was the 165th of its kind, marking the initial results of a joint operation across several central provinces of Việt Nam.

Addressing the ceremony, Việt Nam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc highlighted the collaboration to repatriate US soldiers’ remains is carried out in a humanitarian spirit and focuses on the future of US-Việt Nam relations.

Việt Nam also welcomes the US efforts in relieving war consequences in Việt Nam. The two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, made official in September last year, continues to attach great importance to this matter.

Enhancing cooperation in this area is the best way to heal the wounds of war, build trust, and expand cooperation in various other fields, said the Vietnamese diplomat.

Joining the Vietnamese officials at the ceremony, US Consul General Susan Burns affirms that the US government will continue its support in addressing war consequences in Việt Nam, especially the dioxin cleanup project in Biên Hòa Airport, as well as technology transfer to identify martyrs’ remains.

The search and repatriation of US soldiers missing in action in Việt Nam began immediately after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973.

After 50 years of cooperation, Việt Nam has handed over more than 1,000 soldiers' remains to the US and helped identify more than 730 cases. — VNS