Chinese military officers awarded UN medals for peacekeeping efforts
Two Chinese military officers were awarded the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal for their contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts.
Colonel Zhang Qiman and Lieutenant Colonel Duanmu Donglin, currently working at the UN Department of Peace Operations were among the 30 medal recipients from 19 countries on Friday.
"I feel so proud that I worked at the UN headquarters as a staff officer," Zhang told Xinhua News Agency after the awards ceremony at UN headquarters in New York.
Zhang expressed her gratitude to the motherland, which she said gives her "confidence and courage" so that she could do her utmost for UN peacekeeping operations, adding that participating in UN peacekeeping operations is "a new historic mission and task".
Both Zhang and Duanmu worked in UN peacekeeping missions prior to their posting at the UN headquarters.
UN headquarters observed the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Friday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath to honor all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
"We are thanking them for their services. Peacekeeping is a very demanding work and we are grateful for everything they do," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, undersecretary-general for peace operations department, who decorated the recipients.
"We have excellent colleagues from China. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China's role is extremely important in the view of improving the impact and performance of peacekeeping," Lacroix said.
Currently, China deploys 2,508 uniformed personnel, including 70 women, to eight UN peacekeeping missions, including those in Lebanon, Mali and South Sudan, working in such fields as landmine removal, medical services, engineering, transportation and security, according to China's permanent representative to the UN, Ma Zhaoxu.
China attaches great importance to training and capacity building of peacekeepers, he said at a Security Council open debate earlier this month.
"The Chinese peacekeepers are well-trained, well-equipped and well-disciplined," Ma said.
Ma noted that a standby peacekeeping force of over 8,000 troops and two standby peacekeeping police contingents have been established and passed UN inspection.
"They can be put into operation at any time," he said.
In December, China's share of the UN peacekeeping budget rose from 10.24 percent to 15.22 percent, making it the second largest contributor after the United States.
Ma said China would continue contributing to building the UN's peacekeeping capacity and honoring its commitment to world peace with concrete action.
UN headquarters observed the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Friday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath to honor all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
Xinhua contributed to this story.
xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com
(China Daily 05/27/2019 page11)
