A 158-strong engineering company of Chinese peace-keepers and an
eight-person medical team departed from Beijing Tuesday night for
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
They are the advance party of the 175 troopers and 43 medical
staff, including 13 female doctors and nurses, to be sent to the
DRC by China.
This is the second time China has sent a detachment of military
personnel to join a United Nations-sponsored overseas peace-keeping
mission.
Eight hundred Chinese engineering troops participated in the
peace-keeping mission in Cambodia in 1992 and 1993, building and
rebuilding two airports, and building 36 bridges and 500 km of
roads.
China has sent more than 1,450 soldiers and officers to missions in
10 nations and regions since 1990 when it joined the UN's
peace-keeping programs.
A
Defense Ministry official said the Chinese peace-keepers, selected
from the Chinese military and equipped with advanced engineering
outfit, are capable of fulfilling the mission of airport rebuilding
and the construction of roads, bridges and houses.
The medical team will also serve local civilians, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)