China has sent nearly 6,000 peacekeepers on UN's peacekeeping
missions over the years, contributing not only to the maintenance
of order in regions of conflict, but also to the reconstruction of
damaged areas.
In Liberia, Chinese peacekeepers are on their fourth tour. A
275-strong team departed Beijing on Monday aboard a UN chartered
plane. All 558 members of the team will arrive in Liberia by
December 28.
The team is responsible for building roads, bridges and
shelters, fixing houses and airports, constructing water and power
supply facilities, and providing medical services to people during
their eight-month mission.
So far, China has dispatched 2,243 peacekeepers to Liberia.
Since 1990, Chinese peacekeepers have taken part in 16 UN
missions. Today, 1,487 Chinese peacekeepers are serving in nine
regions, said an official with the peacekeeping affairs office
under the Ministry of Defense.
"China is playing a bigger role in the UN's peacekeeping
missions and its influence is growing," said the official.
In May, a 435-member Chinese peacekeeping team was dispatched to
southern Sudan for a 6.5-year mission. This is the longest
peacekeeping mission that China has even taken on.
The first task for the Chinese after their arrival was to build
a three-kilometer-long road from the airport to the camp.
Putting up with a surface temperature of more than 50 degrees
Celsius, the team completed the road in only three days, winning
applause from the project inspector, a Sudanese army major.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chinese peacekeepers give
physical checkups to local children, and distribute food and
medicine to residents. They also take care of an orphan who lost
his parents in tribal conflicts.
"Nowadays, many Congolese people can say simple Chinese like
'nihao' (hello) or 'Zhong Guo hao' (hello China)", said Wang
Dongsheng, an officer in the Chinese peacekeeping team.
The third team to go to Liberia built and maintained 400
kilometers of road, transported 50,000 tons of materials to
battlefields and treated 4,000 patients.
A UN representative in Liberia praised Chinese peacekeepers for
carrying out the UN mission to a high standard and with strict
discipline.
In south Lebanon, Chinese peacekeepers have cleared more than
4,000 landmines and explosives. The 182-member team won an award
from the UN on October 1.
"Chinese peacekeepers have shown the world the image of a big,
responsible country, which loves peace and actively takes part in
UN affairs," said the Chinese defense official.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2006)
