China holds burial ceremony for soldier remains returned from ROK

Chinese soldiers carry coffins containing remains of soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, during a handover ceremony at the Inchon International Airport of South Korea, March 31, 2016. South Korea on Thursday handed over the remains of 36 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SHENYANG, April 1 -- Remains of 36 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War were reburied in China after they were excavated and returned from the Republic of Korea (ROK), the third batch returned following a handover agreement signed by the two countries in 2013.

With the air filled with the national anthem, China held a grand ceremony in northeastern Liaoning Province on Friday morning, attended by over 300 people including government and military officials, Korean War veterans, their families and members of the public.

"The heros defended regional peace with their lives. Our nation will always remember them as martyrs," said Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Dou Yupei in his memorial speech.

Dou is head of the Chinese delegation that escorted the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers back home on Thursday.

The remains were buried in a martyrs' park in Shenyang, the provincial capital, together with those of 505 soldiers who were returned to China from ROK in 2014 and 2015.

Bi Chunzhi, an 82-year-old veteran who used to work as an army nurse during the war, burst into tears on seeing the coffins of her comrades-in-arms. "They are finally home," she said.

The Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) fought along with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea army in the Korean War against the ROK army and U.S.-led UN forces.

A total of 197,653 CPV soldiers have been confirmed killed in the war so far, most of whom were buried on the Korean Peninsula.

According to an agreement between China and ROK, the two sides consult every year on the hand-over of remains of Chinese soldiers found in ROK. A hand-over is usually held before the traditional Chinese Tomb-Sweeping Day in early April.