China organizes fifth peacekeeping team for Sudan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-19 23:46

ZHENGZHOU -- An official of China's Jinan Military Command Area said Monday the country has organized a fifth peacekeeping team for Sudan, to be sent in mid February.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, right, meets with Liu Guijin, left, special representative of the Chinese government for Darfur, in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. An official of China's Jinan Military Command Area said Monday the country has organized a fifth peacekeeping team for Sudan, to be sent in mid February. [Xinhua]

The team comprises 375 officers and soldiers who come from engineering and transportation corps of the Jinan Military Command Area. Of the team, 72 people will be on their second mission to the African country and 90 percent have participated in fighting against freak winter weather and the Wenchuan earthquake.

"The team will be deployed in southwest Sudan's Wau region. Their major tasks will be repairing and maintaining traffic and civil facilities in this region," said Wang Encheng, an official with the Jinan Military Command Area.

Team training had begun on Monday, he added.