Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Hanoion June 8 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons(VNOSMP) and the 35th anniversary of the joint operation to searchfor US servicemen who were reported missing in action (MIA) during thewar in Vietnam.
Speakingat the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said over the pastfive decades, VNOSMP has been fulfilling itsassigned political missions, contributing to healing the wounds of war as well as normalisingand promoting Vietnam-US relations.
He expressed his beliefthat with the concerted efforts ofthe Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Public Security and theUS partners, the support and coordination of relevant agencies, local authorities, peopleand veterans of both countries, the Vietnam-US MIA cooperation will continue toachieve positive outcomes and fulfill its humanitarian mission, helping to lift the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership to a new height.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc. E Knapper said the US supports a strong, prosperous, independent and self-reliant Vietnam.
The MIA cooperation, which was founded before the two nations normalised their bilateral relations, has created a firm foundation to promote the US-Vietnam relationship, he stressed.
Over the past 35 years, atotal of 160 remains repatriation missions have been carried out, with the remains of 734 missing US servicemen after the war handed over to the US side. Among 1,973 cases of missing USservicemen, 1,239 still require search efforts.
At theevent, delegates took a moment to pay respect to 16 Vietnamese officialsand US specialists who sacrificed their lives while performing MIA duties onApril 7, 2001./.