CCTV

Headline News

China

Chinese peacekeepers head to Darfur

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 11-24-2007 08:30

Special Report:   Chinese "blue berets"

Chinese UN peacekeepers

An advance unit of Chinese UN peacekeepers has left for the Darfur region of Sudan. A farewell ceremony was held in Henan for the 135 soldiers.

They have gone through a tough training regime. And now they will travel more than 8,000 kilometers to Darfur to be part of a special UN peacekeeping mission.

The engineering unit consists of 107 soldiers and 28 officers. They will be responsible for building barracks, roads and bridges, and digging wells -- key areas for the increasing number of UN peacekeepers in the region.

Shangguan Linhong, engineering unit leader, said, "The living conditions in Sudan are poor. The lack of proper infrastructure and complex security situation are also obvious challenges. But with our great traditions, I'm sure we will successfully accomplish the peace mission."

Chinese UN peacekeepers

The force will be deployed in Nyala, the capital of the southern Darfur state in Sudan.

Since it was formed in mid-June, the engineering unit has attended intensive courses, from emergency first aid to simulating Darfur's hot weather conditions and from studying UN regulations to getting to know Sudanese culture.

Everyone in the unit can communicate in English to some degree. They hope to combine their special skills with their reputation as hard workers to contribute to maintaining world peace.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei