China a big contributor to UN peacekeeping operations

China has contributed more than 7,000 peacekeepers to United Nations peacekeeping operations since 1990, according to China's first peacekeeping conference held in Beijing Monday.

Currently, 1,643 Chinese peacekeepers are serving on UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Lebanon and Sudan, said Shi Zhengbo, director of the peacekeeping affairs office of the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

The majority of them are engaged in engineering, transportation and medical services. About 100 are military observers and staff officers, according to Shi.

Reeling off some key statistics, Shi said that Chinese peacekeepers have built over 7,300 kilometers of roads and 200 bridges, treated over 28,000 patients, performed more than 230 surgical operations, transported materials more than 3 million kilometers and cleared over 7,500 explosives.

During these peacekeeping mission, eight Chinese peacekeepers have lost their lives and several dozen have been injured.

Shi said "China takes an active part in UN peacekeeping mission, which reflects China's responsible attitude about world peace and stability."

"Peacekeeping missions also provide opportunities for exchanges between China's military and its foreign counterparts," he said.

"With more Chinese peacekeepers joining UN peacekeeping missions, China will provide more foreign language and psychology training courses to help them adapt," he added.

Source: Xinhua