Experts agreed in a national online conference held on May 15 by the National Steering Committee for the search, collection, repatriation, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains, often called the National Steering Committee 515.

The conference aimed to summarise the implementation of the Prime Minister's decisions stipulating policies for organisations and individuals tasked with searching for and collecting martyrs' remains.

During the conference, presenters reported that the budget for the work had been arranged, managed, and used for the right purposes. Means and equipment have also been effectively managed, exploited, and used, creating favorable conditions for the task of searching for martyrs' remains. Thanks to these efforts, from 2013 until now, the whole country has found the remains of 21,228 martyrs (10,283 in the country; 3,365 in Laos; and 7,580 in Cambodia).

This success partly meets the wishes of the people and the martyrs’ families, contributing to stabilising the socio-political situation in localities and increasing people's confidence in the Party’s and the State's guidelines and policies.

As for Điện Biên, from 2014 to 2023, the province organized the reception, memorial service, and burial 12 times with 280 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died in Laos. The province assigned 8,879 officers and soldiers to participate in searching for, removing, and burying the heroes’ remains. It also called for 685 witnesses to participate in leading the way and providing information about the martyrs' original places of sacrifice and burial in Điện Biên Phủ City and in Điện Biên, Tuần Giáo, Tủa Chùa, and Điện Biên Đông districts. The province surveyed, verified, and concluded 22 pieces of information about martyrs' graves.

During the conference, the representatives discussed how to conduct mine clearance and search for martyrs' remains, the attention and coordination of Party committees and local authorities at all levels for collecting the martyrs’ remains, and legislation work in the field.

To carry out the tasks in the coming time, the experts reached an agreement on six key tasks and solutions. The National Steering Committee 515 and the Ministry of Defence proposed that the Prime Minister consider a policy to overcome problems and inadequacies in Decision 75 and Decision No. 35, focusing on increasing allowances for organisations and individuals responsible for the work. More financial support was also recommended for those who verify and conclude the area and create maps to search for martyrs' remains so that the support level will be suitable with reality and meet immediate as well as long-term task requirements.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Defence awarded certificates of merit to 26 organisations and 26 individuals who have had outstanding achievements in performing their tasks. In Điện Biên Province, the Military Region II awarded certificates of merit to one group and two individuals. The provincial People's Committee awarded certificates of merit to two organisations and five individuals for their outstanding work achievements.