BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – An official of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), spoke highly of the Chinese peacekeeping force, while inspecting its de-mining operation.
De Reviers De Mauny, UNIFIL J3 chief, affirmed China’s contribution to UNIFIL, and praised the Chinese peacekeeping de-mining contingent, as “an indispensable force in keeping global peace.”
Recently, the multi-functional engineering contingent of the 18th batch of Chinese peacekeepers, has been working at a minefield near the UN “Blue Line.”
Gao Chaoning, commander of the 18th bath of Chinese peacekeepers, told Mauny that, Chinese peacekeeping force has participated in de-mining operations with zero casualty in the past 13 years.
“We have set the record of fastest speed, highest quality, lowest cost and casualty, in completing the de-mining mission, assigned by UNIFIL,” Gao added.
Mauny said, UNIFIL is proud of the Chinese team’s operation standards, and hailed the “extraordinary achievements” of the Chinese de-mining contingent.
The Chinese multi-functional engineer contingent was deployed to the mission area, at the end of May. Since then, the contingent has cleared a total of 1,723 square metres of minefields and destroyed 415 mines.
According to UNIFIL, since China deployed its first peacekeeping force in Lebanon in 2006, more than 12,000 mines and various un-exploded ordnance have been discovered and eliminated.– NNN-XINHUA
