BEIJING, May 30 -- "Facts show that the Chinese PLA has become a critical element and key force in the UN peacekeeping operations and will bring more positive energy to world peace and development," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a regular press conference on Thursday.
According to the spokesperson, on May 25th, the Chinese MND Peacekeeping Affairs Center held a reception in Beijing to mark the 22nd International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which fell on May 29. Officials from UN agencies in China, diplomatic missions of main troop- and fund-contributing countries for UN peacekeeping operations, the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security of China, attended the reception.
The spokesperson pointed out that China upholds peace and honors commitment with real actions. China has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations. China is a main contributor to both UN peacekeeping assessments and the UN's regular budget, and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. In recent years, the Chinese PLA has earnestly implemented the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, built an 8,000-strong standby peacekeeping force, and sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions in over 20 countries and regions.
"As we speak, over 1,700 Chinese peacekeepers are performing their duties in 6 mission areas, including South Sudan, Lebanon and the Abyei Area, making positive contributions to world peace and common development," said the spokesperson.
In the new era, the Chinese military will thoroughly deliver on the pledges announced by President Xi Jinping during the UN Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping. Guided by the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the PLA will step up its support for and participation in UN peacekeeping operations to bring greater confidence in and hope of peace and development to conflict zones, stressed the spokesperson in the end.