国内英语新闻：Chinese peacekeepers honored in Sudan

KHARTOUM: Chinese peacekeepers were on Wednesday awarded certificates of merit for their excellent performance during their eight-month term in Sudan, a Chinese officer said Thursday.

Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh Lidder, commander of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), presented Unit Citations to the engineering, transportation and medical contingents of Chinese peacekeeping troops, and Force Commander Commendations to 22 Chinese troops.

The two certificates of merit are the highest honor awarded to peacekeepers from various contributing countries in Sudan, said the Chinese officer.

The awards ceremony was held at the base of the Chinese peacekeeping troops in Wau, capital of West Bahr al-Ghazal state in southern Sudan, two weeks before their departure from Sudan to rotate with another batch of Chinese peacekeeping troops.

Lidder said it was a great honor for him to serve with the Chinese peacekeepers as they were ending "their very successful term" in Sudan.

"During the past months, the three contingents of the Chinese peacekeeping troops have done a significant job to be a role model for professionalism, commitment and conduct," Lidder said.

The Chinese peacekeepers had also maintained excellent relations with the contingents of other countries as well as the local population, the UNMIS commander said.

Li Chengwen, the Chinese Ambassador to Sudan, congratulated all the three contingents, the 22 Chinese peacekeepers as well as the other officers and soldiers. He highly praised their performance in Sudan, especially in the extremely difficult and complicated conditions.

The 435-strong Chinese peacekeeping troops, the second batch of Chinese peacekeepers deployed in southern Sudan since China started taking part in UN peacekeeping operation there in May last year and arrived in Wau in January this year.