“Chinese engineer, good,”
local engineering officer Major Schur repeatedly said after careful examination. "Chinese engineer, good!"
In the DRC, a soldier from Uruguay wrote on the back of his dog tag, "If I get injured, please send me to a Chinese hospital".
Over the past 25 years, "China speed" and "China quality" had made a reputation, making “Chinese peacekeeping force” a reassuring brand among UN peacekeeping forces. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said earlier this year that he was very proud of Chinese peacekeepers’ work and they brought the world more peace, security and freedom.
Building Peace and Friendship
The Chinese armed forces have a tradition of friendly interaction with civilians. In mission areas, without being involved in local political disputes, they have worked hard to help local people.
In a village of Lebanon, a damaged road hindered the transport of crops to market and stopped children getting to school. The ninth batch of Chinese engineers helped repair the road in a fortnight and improved life in the village. Local people named it “The Brother Road”.
In the DRC, a medical team worked closely with the SOS Children's Village, where they developed close bonds with the children.
Since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in Africa last year, Chinese peacekeepers in Liberia have assisted in building a Chinese treatment center. Chinese engineers worked more than 16 hours a day for 28 straight days and completed the building one month ahead of schedule. It was the first treatment center built by foreign peacekeepers in Liberia.
Chinese soldiers' kindness and sincerity have won appreciation from both locals and peacekeepers from other countries. In Gao, Mali, peacekeepers from other countries would bring iced drinks and fruit. In South Sudan, an elderly tribal chief named Rabbie offered four hens as the Chinese troops departed. In many mission areas, local people would approach Chinese soldiers. Many of them did not understand the English words on the Chinese uniforms, but they believed that those who wore Chinese flag on their arms were good people.
Mary, a Liberian girl, said she heard from her elders that starving Chinese people always gave their food to African friends. She was now convinced that the Chinese were true friends and she could feel the warmth of the Chinese peacekeepers.
