China holds burial ceremony for soldier remains returned from ROK

Remainsof36Chinesesoldierskilledinthe1950-53KoreanWarwerereburiedinChinaaftertheywereexcavatedandreturnedfromtheRepublicofKorea(ROK),thethirdbatchreturnedfollowingahandoveragreementsignedbythetwocountriesin2013.

Withtheairfilledwiththenationalanthem,ChinaheldagrandceremonyinnortheasternLiaoningprovinceonFridaymorning,attendedbyover300peopleincludinggovernmentandmilitaryofficials,KoreanWarveterans,theirfamiliesandmembersofthepublic.

"Theheroesdefendedregionalpeacewiththeirlives.Ournationwillalwaysrememberthemasmartyrs,"saidVice-MinisterofCivilAffairsDouYupeiinhismemorialspeech.

DouisheadoftheChinesedelegationthatescortedtheremainsandbelongingsofthefallensoldiersbackhomeonThursday.

Theremainswereburiedinamartyrs'parkinShenyang,theprovincialcapital,togetherwiththoseof505soldierswhowerereturnedtoChinafromROKin2014and2015.

BiChunzhi,an82-year-oldveteranwhousedtoworkasanarmynurseduringthewar,burstintotearsonseeingthecoffinsofhercomrades-in-arms."Theyarefinallyhome,"shesaid.

TheChinesePeople'sVolunteers(CPV)foughtalongwiththeDemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKoreaarmyintheKoreanWaragainsttheROKarmyandUS-ledUNforces.

Atotalof197,653CPVsoldiershavebeenconfirmedkilledinthewarsofar,mostofwhomwereburiedontheKoreanPeninsula.

AccordingtoanagreementbetweenChinaandROK,thetwosidesconsulteveryyearonthehand-overofremainsofChinesesoldiersfoundinROK.Ahand-overisusuallyheldbeforethetraditionalChineseTomb-SweepingDayinearlyApril.

(CHINADAILY)