By Zhang Guijie and Yang Shuangquan
BEIRUT, Nov. 28 (ChinaMil) -- The first “Peace Cup” Chinese chess tournament was jointly hosted by the Chinese peacekeeping troops to Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces on November 25, local time. Over 40 guests including the chairman of the Lebanon's Chinese Chess Association, Education Director of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and people from the chess association, the Lebanese army, and the Lebanese University participated in the event.
Initiated by the Lebanon's Chinese Chess Association, the tournament is authorized by the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and coordinated by the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon. The main purpose of the tournament is to strengthen the friendly exchanges between the Chinese peacekeeping troops and the Lebanese army as well as to celebrate the 75th Lebanese Independence Day.
Seven players from each side participated in this team competition. After nearly three hours of fierce competition, the Chinese peacekeepers got a 2-1 win.
The chairman of the Lebanon's Chinese Chess Association, Education Director of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Commanding officer of Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon respectively gave addresses at the opening ceremony of the tournament.
The chairman of the Lebanon's Chinese Chess Association said, “I sincerely thank the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon, the UNIFIL’s headquarters and the Chinese peacekeeping troops for organizing this tournament on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Lebanon’s independence. It manifests the friendly military relations between the two countries.” Education Director of the Lebanese Armed Forces also expressed his gratitude for the generous help made by the Chinese military.
According to leaders of the Chinese peacekeeping troops to Lebanon, organizing the Chinese chess tournament with the Lebanese Armed Forces is an important part of the series of activities of the peacekeeping troops. The tournament helps strengthen the ties and understanding among the Chinese peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese army and local people, enhance friendship and provide the local people with an opportunity to understand China and the traditional Chinese culture.
Since its deployment to the mission area at the end of May, the Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon have performed such duties as mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), engineering and construction as well as humanitarian relief.
In addition, they have also carried out interactive exchanges with UNIFIL’s friendly forces, the Lebanese army and the local authorities according to the applicable laws and regulation of the area. They have organized peacekeeping training experience and traditional cultural exchanges with more than 10 international peacekeeping forces including Italy, the Republic of Korea and Cambodia, etc.