Representatives from the Chinese peacekeeping force in the DRC participate in the Pakistan Day celebrations on March 23, 2019.
By Li Zhiqiang
BUKAVU, DRC, Mar. 25 (ChinaMil) — Pakistan Day, which falls on March 23, is a public holiday to remember the Lahore Resolution. At the invitation from the Sector South Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), who is also a Pakistani, over 40 troops from the 22nd Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) participated in the Pakistan Day celebrations held by their Pakistani counterparts.
The troops from both countries have forged a profound friendship while carrying out peacekeeping missions in Bukavu, DRC.
The Chinese peacekeepers are responsible for tasks such as rebuilding roads and bridges in the DRC mission area, while the Pakistani officers and soldiers are overseeing the safety of the Chinese engineers. The two teams share their joys and sorrows, advancing and retreating together.
Chinese engineer contingent depends on the guarding of Pakistani Infantrymen to fulfill the construction assignment. To ensure the safety of the Chinese peacekeepers, the Pakistani always deploys highly experienced and capable soldiers.
Zeng Siyuan, commanding officer of the 22nd Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to the DRC, said, “The Chinese and Pakistani peacekeepers have experienced profound friendship in the DRC mission area and have been, and always shall be ‘iron friends’. I sincerely hope that the all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan, which has stood the test of time, will continue flourishing.”