CRI听力: China's Peacekeeping Forces in Sudan's Darfur

China has sent new peace-keeping forces to Sudan's Darfur region. This is China's first deployment in the region after southern Sudan voted for independence in a referendum.

Our reporter Wang Jing gives us a brief update on the Chinese peacekeepers.



The peacekeeping delegation is made up of 315 soldiers, who went through intensive training before setting off to Darfur.

But Hong Haitao, one member from the team, says his nerve remains tense.

"My fellow soldiers and I had intensive training for two months in China, but the moment we stepped onto the land of Sudan, we felt the tense from the environment."

South Sudan has voted in a referendum earlier this year to secede from the rest of the Sudan, with which it fought nearly half a century.

But the situation remains tough in the area. There has been fighting between the Southern army and local rebel movements and clashes between units of the northern Sudanese army deployed in the south.

Chief of Staff Yang Ximei says their camp needs to keep alert of any intrusion from either refuges or illegal armed forces.

"If they broke into our camp, we would first send out our translator and negotiating team. Our standing point is to avoid conflict and solve problems based on UN's rules of engagement and other referendum UN signed with Darfur. We are here to keep peace, and we will maintain neutrality."

The peacekeeping force will also be involved in the construction and maintenance of local roads and bridges, as well as exploring for water sources and drilling wells for the locals.

The latest batch of Chinese peacekeepers will stay in southern Sudan for 8 months.

For CRI, I'm wangjing.