CRI听力:South Korea Returns Remains of Chinese Soldier

The handover ceremony has taken place at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea.

There was a South Korean honour guard, and officials from both sides watched as Chinese national flags were laid on top of 437 caskets.

A Chinese plane carrying the soldiers' remains has now landed at an airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The head of the Chinese delegation, Zou Ming, expressed gratitude to South Korea and says such repatriations will continue.

"We appreciate South Korea's proactive efforts and sincerity. China and South Korea will continue to cooperate on this sensitive issue over the long-term. The remains of Chinese soldiers will be repatriated to China every year before Chinese Qingming Festival on April 5th."

The Chinese Forgien Ministry has released a new statement to welcome the move, saying it will increase the friendship between the two countries.

China and South Korean reached agreement on the repatriations last year.

The South Korean Defence Ministry said the remains of the Chinese soldiers were exhumed in December 2013 and identified between January and February this year.

The remains were interred at a burial ground in Paju after the Korean War.

South Korean Vice Defence Minister, Baek Seung-joo also expressed hope of developing better relations between the two countries.

"South Korea and China walking together and cooperating, with trust, will not only lead the relationship between the two countries towards harmony, but also foster East Asia's peaceful cooperation. It will also mark a big turn in creating an international community full of humanitarianism and trust."

The Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) fought side by side with the army of North Korea in the Korean War against the South Korean army and a U.S. -led international forces.

Tens of thousands of CPV soldiers died on the Korean Peninsula during the war, which ended in an armistice in 1953.

For CRI, I'm Ding Lulu.