Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon completes the 18th rotation and handover
Xinhua News Agency, Beirut, August 14th. The handover ceremony of the command power of the 18th and 19th batch of Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon was held on the 14th in the Chinese peacekeeping force barracks in Siniya Village, southern Lebanon. Deputy UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Owen Ariyetti and Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian attended the meeting.
At the handover ceremony, Aliyetti reviewed the Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon, took over the United Nations flag from Gao Chaoning, the commander of the 18th Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon, and solemnly handed them to Du Jia, the commander of the 19th Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon.
In his speech, Arieti highly affirmed that the Chinese peacekeeping force has made significant contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the South Lebanon region. He said that in the past year or so, all officers and soldiers of the Chinese peacekeeping force used their own actions to defend the green of the olive branch for the "blue helmet" troops. Chinese peacekeepers always appear in the most dangerous places. They not only display their professional skills, but also spread the cultural connotation of China’s pursuit of peace. They play an active role in UNIFIL and have won widespread praise from the international community and the local government.
Du Jia said that the new batch of peacekeeping troops will not be afraid of hardships, bloodshed and sacrifices, resolutely complete various tasks, and strive to make positive contributions to the maintenance of lasting peace in South Lebanon.
Affected by the new crown epidemic, the rotation of the Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon this year has been postponed for nearly 3 months. The 19th batch of the first echelon of the peacekeeping force arrived in the mission area on July 28, and after the 14-day centralized quarantine, The officers and soldiers of the peacekeeping force were handed over. The second echelon of the 19th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon is expected to arrive in Lebanon on the 18th of this month.