Remains of CPV martyrs returned from ROK buried in Shenyang

The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday. It was the 11th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

The burial ceremony began at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10:00 as a military band began to play, and the guard of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen martyrs entered the cemetery.

All attendees bowed three times to the CPV martyrs, and 27 ceremonial guards fired 12 shots, paying the highest respect to the heroes.

The guards then lifted the caskets of the martyrs and circled the square for half a lap, slowly walking toward the burial site.

The remains of 981 CPV soldiers have been repatriated and buried in the cemetery since 2014.

The ceremony was attended by CPV veterans, members of the martyrs' families and representatives from all walks of life.

"This is a very solemn and reverent experience. To witness the martyrs, who bravely gave their lives in a foreign land, being brought back to the embrace of the motherland was a profound uplift to my patriotic feelings. We should carry forward their spirit, work hard to improve ourselves, and contribute our modest efforts to society in the future," said Chang Pei-han, a student from Hong Kong Pui Kiu Middle School.

"These young CPV soldiers fought bravely against the enemy in the freezing cold and snow 74 years ago. Today as the country enjoys peace and stability, they, draped with the national flag, return home. We must forever honor their sacrifices and dedication, carry forward the spirit of these heroes, and draw strength from their example to continue forging ahead," said Qiu Yu, Shenyang resident.

During the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, a total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers fought on the battlefield, with more than 360,000 killed or injured.

Remains of CPV martyrs returned from ROK buried in Shenyang

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs' Deputy Director Driss El Hadani highlighted the need for more international cooperation and building capacities for space activities, while attending a Thursday conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China), affiliated to the United Nations.

Delegates from 14 countries attended the event in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province.

The center in Hangzhou is the sixth center to be established under the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. As of September 2024, the center had cultivated 395 master's and doctoral students from 33 countries, and had conducted more than 30 short-term training courses -- training over 2,000 participants from more than 70 countries. Originally inaugurated at Beihang University in Beijing in 2014, it relocated to Hangzhou earlier this year.

"From our discussions this morning and the seminar this afternoon, it is clear that the regional centers have a very important role in terms of capacity building indication. The center was created with the aim to offer the opportunity to developing countries to benefit and to contribute to space activities. The regional center in China and especially the one in Hangzhou, I think is offering a new opportunity to all member states to contribute to the lunar program. And there is a large place for this center to contribute to the capacity building and to bridge the gap between the spacefaring nations and the emerging nations in terms of space activities and especially for lunar activities," said Driss El Hadani.

As part of the celebrations, international delegates toured the center and its laboratories. They explored how the center is advancing space research and fostering international cooperation in areas like satellite technology, remote sensing and lunar space station.

UN official highlights cooperation, capacity building for space, lunar activities