He delivered an opening remark at an international conference in Hanoi held by the Ministry of National Defense, which brought together experts from the US, representatives of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICPM), and Vietnamese agencies.
Deputy Minister Gau said identifying the remains of fallen soldiers is a sacred responsibility to those who gave up their lives for the Fatherland and their relatives.
"Today's discussion should focus on the requirements and solutions for long-term preservation of samples; as well as next-generation gene sequencing technology and testing techniques for degraded skeletal remains with low DNA content. We should also share experience on how to organize and operate labs, and conduct quality control throughout the entire process, to ensure accurate and reliable results," Gau said.
"Proposals for cooperation in personnel training, technology transfer, support, and applied research should be specific and based on Vietnam's needs and our partners' strengths, with the goal of helping Vietnamese agencies master and implement the technology effectively in the long run," he added.
In addition to next-generation gene sequencing and DNA analysis from decomposed skeletal remains, experts also share insights into developing data systems and ensuring tests' quality. These insights and recommendations will help strengthen Vietnam's DNA testing and accelerate the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains.
