中国维和部队从马里回国

A team of Chinese peacekeepers has recently returned from Mali after duties with the UN. They had been sent to the eastern city of Gao at the end of last year. The contingent consisted of a security force, medical staff and engineers. It was China's 30th UN peacekeeping mission since 1990.

For many of these young peacekeepers, the heat and danger of Gao, was a new experience. But it didn't deter them from doing their job well.

It was the first time that China has sent a security force comprising of 170 combat specialists. In their nine-month deployment, they completed over 450 patrolling missions and 230 escorting missions. They also dealt with more than 60 emergencies, including large-scale violent protests, suicide car bombs and other attacks.

Besides their regular duties, the peacekeepers also helped the local civilians. They provided shelter and food to many refugees and also some goods of daily living and books for children.

And they were acknowledged by the UN Mission called, The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali or MINUSMA for short.

After a nine-month peace-keeping mission in Mali, the first team of Chinese peacekeepers have already come back to their military base in Harbin and returned to normal work and training. The security force here is demonstrating basic combat skills used for UN peace-keeping missions. Basic as it is, it’s really quite challenging..

Looking back at the deployment, Lt. Col. Zhang Geqiang believes the mission in Mali was a great opportunity for actual combat experience.

"The peacekeeping mission in Mali has provided a chance for our young soldiers to learn from the actual battlefield," Zhang said. "It has greatly enhanced our combat skills and self-confidence.”

Lt. Col. Zhang also says the performance of the young soldiers impressed him very much.

"Most of our soldiers are from the post-80s or 90s generation," Zhang said. "The responsibility and courage they showed in the face of danger in peacekeeping missions, was really admirable.”

One of the members of the contingent says he feels happy that they won respect from other foreign peacekeepers.

"We often communicated with other foreign peacekeepers in Mali," Chinese peacekeeping contingent in Mali Lt. Yang Huawen said. "We were paying attention to etiquette and manners because we knew that we represented China. We managed to win their deep respect. They would often give us a thumbs-up when meeting us."

It was the 30th UN peacekeeping mission for China. However, the mission in Mali hasn't ended. A second team of Chinese peacekeepers left for the country in late September.