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| Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Director of the US Defence Prisoners of War/Missing In Action ((POW/MIA) Accounting Agency Kelly K. Mc Keague. Photo: VNA |
The Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien received the Director of the United States Defence Prisoners of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) Accounting Agency Kelly K. Mc Keague on June 7, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
At a reception, Chien highlighted the significance of Mc Keague’s visit as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and 35 years of joint operations to locate American personnel who went Missing in Action (MIA). This is a significant milestone in the two countries’ joint efforts to tackle the aftermath of the war.
Acknowledging the US agency’s efforts in strengthening the relationship between the two countries in recent years, particularly in assisting Vietnam in overcoming the aftermath of the war, Chien stated that the cooperation in attempting to find US soldiers missing in the war is the bridge and initial link between the leaders of both countries, aiding the two populations in comprehending their benevolent and humanitarian policies.
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| Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Director of the US Defence Prisoners of War/Missing In Action ((POW/MIA) Accounting Agency Kelly K. Mc Keague. Photo: qdnd.vn |
He stated that the two sides are adhering to the annual plan they have agreed upon and are carrying out cooperative activities. So far, 150 joint and individual search campaigns have been accomplished, and the 151st is in progress.
Regarding cooperation in searching and collecting the remains of Vietnamese martyrs, based on the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation signed in July 2021, the two sides have actively implemented activities and achieved outstanding results.
The US government has provided Vietnam with over 30 sets of documents pertaining to soldiers who were either killed or went missing during the war, as well as various war relics, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense. The ministry expressed its hope for further assistance from the US regarding the search for the nearly 180,000 missing martyrs.
Chien stated that in the near future, the two entities should keep working together to find US servicemen who went missing during the war. He also wished that the US government will provide Vietnam with assistance to overcome the consequences of war, including bombs/mines and toxic chemicals, as well as searching and collecting the remains of Vietnam’s deceased soldiers.
Given the tremendous opportunities for collaboration in a variety of areas between the United States and Vietnam, Kelly K. McKeague has affirmed that the United States Government will remain steadfast in its commitment to addressing the legacies of war in Vietnam. Given the huge potential for cooperation in various fields between the US and Vietnam, Kelly K. Mc Keague affirmed that the US Government will continue to fulfill its commitments to tackling war consequences in Vietnam.
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on June 8 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and the 35th anniversary of the joint efforts to search for U.S. servicemen who went missing during the Vietnam War.
Over the past 35 years, 160 repatriation missions have been conducted, resulting in the return of the remains of 734 missing US servicemen after the war. Of the 1,973 cases of missing US servicemen, 1,239 still require search efforts.
At the event, delegates paused to honor the memory of 16 Vietnamese officials and US specialists who gave their lives in the line of duty while searching for Missing In Action (MIA) personnel on April 7, 2001.
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