Representative of China: Continuing to work for peace is the best commemoration of the sacrifice of peacekeepers

　　China News Agency, United Nations, May 29. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, delivered a speech on the International Day of Peacekeepers on the 29th, saying that continuing to work for peace is the best memorial for the sacrifice of peacekeepers.

　　In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 57/129 and decided to designate May 29 as the "International Day of Peacekeepers" to commemorate the peacekeepers who gave their lives for the cause of peace.

The theme of this year's International Day is "The Road to Lasting Peace: Utilizing Youth to Promote Peace and Security." The United Nations also held a commemorative ceremony to pay tribute to peacekeepers a few days ago.

　　Zhang Jun said that today is the International Day of Peacekeepers. I would like to pay high tribute to all peacekeepers, especially the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who sacrificed for the cause of peace.

　　Zhang Jun pointed out that continuing to work for peace is the best commemoration of the sacrifice of peacekeepers.

China is the second largest UN peacekeeping contributory country, and it has always paid its peacekeeping contributions on time and in full.

China is the largest peacekeeping contributor among the permanent members of the Security Council. At present, there are more than 2,000 Chinese peacekeepers performing missions in 8 mission areas.

So far, a total of 20 Chinese peacekeepers have given their precious lives for the cause of peace.

　　Zhang Jun emphasized that while peacekeepers protect the world, China is committed to improving the safety of peacekeepers.

Last year, under the impetus of China, the Security Council passed the first Resolution 2518 on the safety of peacekeepers.

In April this year, China initiated the establishment of a group of friends for the safety of United Nations peacekeepers.

On May 24, China hosted an open debate on the security of the Security Council’s peacekeepers and promoted the Council’s adoption of a presidential statement drafted by China.

China will continue to fulfill its firm commitment to support the United Nations and protect peacekeepers with practical actions.

　　According to UN statistics, since 1948, a total of more than 1 million peacekeepers have participated in 72 UN peacekeeping operations.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 50 peacekeepers around the world have unfortunately died on duty due to armed attacks, accidents, diseases and other reasons.

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