Vietnam and Laos signed a cooperation agreement on continuing the search for and retrieval of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who lost their lives during the war in Laos.

The document, the 20 th of its kind, was signed by Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Thanh Cung, who is also Head of the Government’s Special Task Board, and his Laotian counterpart Chansamon Chanyalath at a conference in southern Champasak province on May 28.

During the event, Cung suggested the two nations intensify joint efforts during the 2015-2016 dry season.

According to the Special Task Board, the remains of Vietnamese martyrs are still scattered across Laos, with the majority lying in Vientiane, Xieng khouang and Savanakhet, among others.

A number of awareness raising campaigns have been organised in the two countries to garner support from communities and veterans.

Remains of 212 fallen volunteer soldiers have been found in Laos in the 2014-2015 dry season, of which nine were identified.

Millions of Vietnamese sacrificed their lives for national liberation during the two wars of resistance against French and US forces, as well as during international missions in Laos and Cambodia.

Missions to find and repatriate the remains of these fallen soldiers are conducted annually, receiving due attention from the Party and the State.

Since May 13, the central provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh have organised reburial ceremonies for the remains of the fallen soldiers and experts repatriated from Laos.-VNA