China actively participates in UN peacekeeping operations

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-20 14:04

China actively participated in the UN peacekeeping operations, says a white paper on the country's national defense in 2008 issued here Tuesday.

"The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent 11,063 military personnel times to participate in 18 UN peacekeeping operations since 1990," says the paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

Eight lost their lives on duty, says the White Paper.

China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has consistently supported and actively participated in the peacekeeping operations in line with the spirit of the UN Charter, according to the white paper.

"Our active participation accords with the purpose of our foreign policy to safeguard world peace and promote common development," said Kui Yanwei, a senior officer with the peacekeeping affairs office of the Defense Ministry.

China's participation in the UN peacekeeping operations helps regional stability and world peace, and is also conducive for improving the PLA's capability of accomplishing diversified military tasks, he said.

As of the end of November 2008, China had 1,949 military peacekeeping personnel serving in nine UN mission areas and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, according to the white paper.

In the past 18 years, Chinese peacekeepers have built over 7,000 kilometers of roads and 200 bridges, treated over 40,000 patients, and cleared over 7,000 explosives.

With further increasing of China's peacekeeping missions, the country would enhance language, psychology and technical training for the peacekeepers and strengthen legislation work, in a bid to meet the diversified trend of UN peacekeeping functions, said Kui.