Ceremony marks 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons: Participants at the ceremony (Photo: WVR/DK)

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said over the past five decades, VNOSMP has been fulfilling its assigned political missions, contributing to healing the wounds of war as well as normalising and promoting Vietnam-US relations.

Ceremony marks 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the event. (Photo: WVR/DK)

He expressed his belief that with the concerted efforts of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Public Security and the US partners, the support and coordination of relevant agencies, local authorities, people and veterans of both countries, the Vietnam-US MIA cooperation will continue to achieve 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, the US Ambassador stressed.

Ceremony marks 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons: US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper. (Photo: WVR/ĐK)

Over the past 35 years, a total 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 US servicemen, 1,239 still require search efforts.

At the event, delegates took a moment to pay respect to 16 Vietnamese officials and US specialists who sacrificed their lives while performing MIA duties on April 7, 2001.