A group of 279 Chinese soldiers, part of China's third batch of
peacekeeping troops to Liberia, left for the west African country
Saturday night.
Another group of the peacekeeping troops is scheduled to leave
on July 19, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
The third batch of Chinese peacekeeping troops consists of a
240-member transport contingent, a 275-member engineering
contingent and a 43-member medical contingent.
The peacekeepers have had a two-month closed-door training in
professional techniques, self-defense, and survival in field
operations, as well as the laws and customs of Liberia, said
ministry sources.
China has dispatched a total of 1,116 peacekeepers in two
batches to Liberia, who well performed their duties entrusted by
the United Nations.
In May this year, three Chinese military contingents for the UN
peacekeeping mission in Liberia were awarded UN medals for their
contribution to the restoration of peace and stability in
Liberia.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2005)
