China wins global applause for efforts in world peacekeeping

China’s efforts in keeping world peace, and promoting co-operation and development won global applause at the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, held from Sunday to Tuesday.

“China has played a very critical and a very important role in UN peacekeeping operations,” said Atul Khare, UN under-secretary-general for operational support.

He added that China was not only the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the UN security council but also the second largest financial contributor to the budget of peacekeeping operations. More than 2500 Chinese personnel are now deployed in UN peacekeeping operations, risking their lives to keep the world safe.

“All of them are doing excellent work,” said Atul Khare.

Aleksandar Vulin, the defence minister of Serbia, was impressed by China’s peaceful development. “We always feel that China respects every nation,” he said.

Ishwar Pokhrel, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Nepal, expressed his expectations to the newly upgraded strategic partnership of co-operation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity between China and Nepal.

“China is taking initiatives which give hope to people from different countries. Non interference, independence, peace, and friendship, all these things are in demand of people of different countries,” he told Xinhua.

Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich recognised achievements China has made in the past seven decades. “We believe China will continue to promote peace, stability and development, and contribute to solving common security challenges,” he said.

More than 1300 people, including 76 official delegations, defence ministers from 23 countries, representatives and scholars from international organisations, as well as observers of various countries attended the forum this year.

Initiated in 2006, the forum is widely recognised as a major platform for exchanges and co-operation among defence authorities, armed forces, international organisations and scholars.