China and US confer in search of remains of US soldiers in WWII

The Chinese and the United States militaries held a video conference on Thursday morning on the search for remains of US prisoners of war and missing persons, according to brief news release by the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The both sides exchanged views on case investigation and the archival cooperation between the two militaries, said the ministry.

Over the years, China and the US have maintained good cooperation in the search for the remains of American soldiers sacrificed in China during World War II, many of whom were related to the "Hump Airlift", the longest, largest and most dangerous strategic airlift of World War II.

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, the "Hump Airlift", which began in 1942 and lasted until the end of World War II, was a lifeline opened by the Allies to transport strategic materials to China.

American pilots transported approximately 650,000 tons of war supplies, while more than 1,500 pilots and crew members sacrificed or went missing along the route, according to the report.

According to Sichuan Daily, the "Hump Airlift" started in India, crossed various mountains and rivers including the Himalayas, and extended to Southwest China. The route was approximately 500 miles long and had altitudes ranging from 4,500 meters to over 5,500 meters.

The route got its nickname because the aircrews thought the rolling mountains resembled camels' humps.

In October 2015, the transfer ceremony of the remains of American soldiers assisting China in World War II was held in Sichuan. The Chinese side formally transferred the remains of American pilots discovered in Tibet to the representative of the US Department of Defense.