The Defense Ministry opened the People's Liberation Army's first-ever peacekeeping center this past week in suburban Beijing.

The facility covers 16,000 square meters and has over 20 class rooms to provide training in subjects including English language. The center also boasts facilities to offer various training, such as survival skills and de-mining. And it is expected to serve as a venue for international peacekeeping exchanges.

China has sent over 12,000 peacekeepers on UN missions since 1990. And nearly 2,000 Chinese peacekeepers are currently on missions overseas.

(CCTV June 29, 2009)