South Korea has handed over to China the remains of 20 Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War more than 60 years ago. A memorial service was held at the Shenyang Taoxian International Airport to mark the return. CGTN correspondent Guan Yang was there.

GUAN YANG SHENYANG TAOXIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "The plane from China's air force carrying the remains of 20 Chinese volunteer soldiers touched down at around 11:30 this morning, the fallen soldiers make an honourable return to home soil."

For people who have fought alongside these soldiers during the war as well as the relatives, the flight from South Korea today could be the flight they've been waiting for over half a century, the memorial ceremony was a very touching and personal moment. And today's ceremony has evoked great emotion in many Chinese people. Since these 20 sets of remains of volunteer soldiers, their identities were unknown, veterans at the ceremony can only regard them as their comrades-in-arms. And for the relatives, what really matters is bringing the remains back to home soil.

The coffins are covered by China's national flag which is the highest honor given by the people's liberation army. And it is worth mentioning that, after the return this time, the newly formed ministry of veteran affairs following the structural reform of China's state council will take charge of the relevant work regarding the settlement of remains for Chinese Volunteer Soldiers. Previously, the tasks were handled by different governmental bodies, like the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Human Resources and the Central Military Commission.

This is the fifth annual return under a 2013 agreement between China and South Korea which has so far seen 569 sets of remains sent back to China. Both countries agreed to repatriate the remains on humanitarian grounds. On tomorrow morning, these remains will be buried at the Korean Martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang. GUAN YANG, CGTN, SHENYANG TAOXIAN AIRPORT.