CRI听力:Defense ministers pledge to improve mission planning at UN peacekeeping conference

Bringing together Defense Ministers and other representatives from 70 different countries, the international gathering is the largest of its kind in UN peacekeeping history.
 
Since last year's Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping in New York, 28 countries have made promises to increase their roles in UN peacekeeping operations.
 
In his opening speech at the conference, UK Defense Minister Michael Fallon says adding additional troops are only part of the equation: "Having more people and more and better capability is a step forward. But we also need to ensure that we can achieve the right quality that starts with training getting peacekeepers trained and fit for purpose, with the right equipment and fully vetted before they deploy."
 
As the host of this year's UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial, the UK has announced it will send 100 additional peacekeepers into South Sudan.
 
The British non-combat troops will help bolster a force of some 12,000 soldiers from different parts of the world who are already in South Sudan to try to maintain security and tend to the civilian refugees.
 
Around a million people in South Sudan have fled their homes, either to neighboring countries or UN refugee locations amid two years of civil unrest in the world's newest country.

The UN contingent in South Sudan includes a Chinese infantry battalion, which was dispatched to the country last year.
 
Speaking at a panel discussion during the conference, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan says China plans to continue bolstering UN operations in South Sudan, as well as other global hot-spots.
 
He says this will include adding additional forces to the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, as well as building a peacekeeping standby force of some 8,000 troops, on top of establishing a permanent peacekeeping police squad.
 
"We have selected peacekeepers from among all the Chinese military personnel, steadily improved the structure of the peacekeeping units and ensured they are well-equipped. We have set up a 3-tier training system for junior, medium and senior level peacekeepers. We have made Chinese peacekeepers well acquainted with UN peacekeeping rules, policies, and standard procedures ensured that they are sensitive to local customs, thus enabling them to fully implement their peacekeeping mandate. "
 
There are currently around 2,500 Chinese military personnel on active duty in nine different UN mission areas.
 
UN deputy Secretary-General in charge of peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, says they're pleased with the contribution China is making to the United Nations peacekeeping forces.
 
"China has become now the first contributor of troops amongst the permanent members of UN Security Council. They are deployed in very difficult environment and have suffered tragic casualties in Mali and in South Sudan not so long ago. I think China is demonstrating courage and commitment to the international community, and of course we welcome the country's increased participation."
 
In the coming three years, China is set to cover 10.2% of all the UN's costs for peacekeeping expenses around the world. This includes a 100 million dollars pledge of support for the African Union standby force and one billion dollars to establish the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.