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The first group of Chinese peace-keeping troops in Liberia returned to this capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province Thursday after wrapping up their mission.
After arriving in Liberia on April 7, 2004, the 274-member group worked to repair highways and bridges in three emergency teams. Over the past nine months, they have repaired highways with a total length of 585 km and built or rebuilt 21 bridges, paving the way for UN aid to Liberia.
The peace-keeping units were modeled on the regiment of Lei Feng, a heroic soldier of the People's Liberation Army known for his unselfish willingness to help others. The peace-keepers helped local residents build sports grounds and roads and repaired school buildings and residential houses in their spare time. Before leaving Liberia, each soldier was awarded a UN honorary medal in praise of his outstanding performance.
China has sent 3,362 military personnel to 13 UN peace-keeping operations since its first dispatch of military observers to such operations in 1990.
At present, 845 personnel from the People's Liberation Army are working in eight UN peace-keeping areas, including 66 military observers, three staff officers at the UN Department of Peace-keeping Operations, and personnel in engineering, medical and transportation units to Congo (Kinshasa) and Liberia.
Since January 2000, China has sent 404 policemen to the peace-keeping operations in six UN peace-keeping task areas, according to the white paper issued recently.
(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2005)
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