Chinese peacekeepers depart for Central African Republic, Cyprus

Seven Chinese police officers assigned respectively to United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and Cyprus were accorded a ceremonial send-off in Beijing on Thursday before departing from Beijing Capital International Airport for the two missions.

Upon arrival, they will focus on protecting civilians, assisting in the development of local policing systems, supporting humanitarian relief operations and safeguarding UN personnel and facilities.

The officers were selected from the Ministry of Public Security's standing peacekeeping police force and local public security authorities. After several rounds of rigorous screening, they passed the UN selection assessment for individual police officers with outstanding performance and completed intensive training at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center.

An official with the international cooperation department of the Ministry of Public Security said China firmly supports and actively participates in UN peacekeeping operations. Operating under UN mandates, Chinese peacekeeping police officers will perform duties including combating crime, protecting human rights and helping rebuild local law enforcement capacity.

Their work will also contribute to restoring public order, protecting civilians and advancing the reconstruction of local judicial systems in the host countries, the official added.