BEIJING/INCHEON, Republic of Korea - The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.  

A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft carrying the remains of the fallen soldiers entered Chinese airspace, escorted by four J-20 fighter jets.

China and the ROK earlier on Wednesday held a handover ceremony at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for the remains of the 12 war martyrs and 146 personal effects.

Xu Yao, vice-minister of the Chinese Ministry of Veterans Affairs, led the Chinese delegation, while Lee Doo-hee, vice-defense minister of ROK, headed the ROK side.

Representatives of the two sides signed a handover document at the ceremony. The Chinese side also held a mourning ceremony, during which the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was played.

Chinese Ambassador to ROK Dai Bing draped the Chinese national flag over the coffins of the martyrs. Chinese participants paid tribute with three bows, and honor guards of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) escorted the coffins onto a Y-20B transport aircraft of the PLA Air Force for their return home.

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Xu said that China and ROK have carried out the handover of the remains of CPV martyrs in ROK for 13 consecutive years in line with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

With the latest repatriation, a total of 1,023 sets of remains of CPV martyrs have been returned to China from ROK since 2014, he said.

Xu noted that the handover has become a vivid example of friendly cooperation between the two countries, helping enhance bilateral friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation. He also thanked relevant ROK departments and staff members for their efforts.

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Officials from relevant Chinese government departments, as well as staff from the Chinese Embassy in ROK, attended the ceremony.