Part of the second batch of the Chinese peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo) returned to Beijing Sunday after finishing an eight-month-long mission.

The returnees include 90 engineering soldiers and officers as well as 20 medical staffers.

All the 218 soldiers and officers of the second batch, including 175 engineers and 43 medical personnel, received special honors from the United Nations for their hard word, according to a source from China's Ministry of Defense.

China's peacekeeping force to the D. R. Congo finished their first shift in December 2003.

Third batch of the Chinese peacekeeping forces of 100 members left Beijing Friday morning to D.R. Congo to replace the second batch sent in April 2003.

A Chinese officer from Peacekeeping Office of the Ministry of Defense said the third batch of peacekeeping forces has strengthened their exercises of light weapon shooting, self-defense skills and field operation.

He said that he believed that this group will also fulfill their tasks because they are able to draw upon experience of the two former peacekeeping groups.