Dai made the remark on China's peacekeeping efforts at a briefing for 75 defense attaches from 57 countries, who were visiting an engineering brigade of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) preparing for the mission in the D.R. Congo.

The peace-keeping company of 175 officers and soldiers have finished their preparations, with all their engineering equipment made in China, and are waiting for the departure orders from the United Nations.

Another 43-strong military medical team will also leave for the D.R. Congo at the same time.

"China has decided to send a company for the peace-keeping mission in the D.R. Congo, at the request of the United Nations and approved by the Chinese State Council and the Central Military Commission," Dai said.

Since 1990, China has sent more than 1,450 officers and soldiers, including 640 military observers, liaison officials and consultants, for 10 UN peace- keeping missions.

"To fulfill this mission, China sent a working group to the UN headquarters to consult with the United Nations on the mission in early January 2003, and another working group has been sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate," he said.

Ten years ago, the same engineering brigade sent 800 engineering troops to help rebuild Cambodia. Nine of the 800 will join this peace-keeping mission in the D.R.Congo.

Col. Yuan Chunguo, one of the nine, said: "The mission in Cambodia was tough and two of my comrades died there.

" But I am still convinced that we can fulfill our task this time," he said.

Four Chinese soldiers have died in foreign lands and several dozen have been wounded during the UN peace-keeping operations in which China has taken part.

At present, more than 50 Chinese military observers are working in six peace-keeping areas.

Though most of the young soldiers joining the peace-keeping operation for the first time are excited, they realize the ir responsibility and have prepared carefully.

Wang Guangling, a sergeant 1st class from China's east Shandong Province, has continued his English studies for five years since joining the army.

"Every soldier needs to memorize one English word a day and one everyday sentence per week," he said.

Wang was able to communicate with the defense attaches during a dinner with them. The defense attaches were interested in talking with the Chinese soldiers.

Robert Davis, assistant military attache at the US embassy in China, said as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China had become more involved in UN peace-keeping operations and he had already heard about the Chinese military's peace efforts in Cambodia before this visit to the engineering brigade.

Lt.Col. Nathan Macharia Kigotho, the Kenyan defense attache, a former military monitor in a UN peacekeeping operation, said: "It's really challenging to keep the peace in a war-ravaged country and it's really a good and positive move for China to take part in the peacekeeping efforts of the international community."

Soldiers and defense attaches took photos in front of a white vehicle with the UN symbol before the defense attaches concluded their visit.

Sr. Col. Qin Bokai, commander of the engineering brigade said: "The design of the globe and olive branch on the armband of a peace-keeper's uniform is the symbol of peace. Chinese soldiers will contribute to the peace of mankind."

(People?s Daily January 25, 2003)