China pledges greater role in UN peacekeeping

The Chinese military stands ready to make greater contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations, a defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

"The Chinese military fights for peace and safeguards peace, and has become a key force in UN peacekeeping operations," he said.

Over the past 35 years, Chinese peacekeepers have dedicated their youth and passion to safeguarding world peace, Zhang said. "With professionalism, resilience, dedication, and sacrifice, they have demonstrated the responsibility of a major country, and won extensive recognition from the international community."

The Chinese military will continue to expand its participation in UN peacekeeping operations with greater input and dedication, he said.

"We will deepen our cooperation with all parties in technology, training, equipment, and personnel, optimize the composition and capabilities of the Chinese peacekeeping standby force, and incorporate new-domain and new-quality forces for situational awareness, explosive ordnance disposal, and counter-unmanned aerial vehicle operations into UN peacekeeping operations," Zhang said.

The Chinese military is willing to contribute more Chinese strength and serve the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he said.