Monrovia — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Madam Ellen Margrethe Løj has commended the Chinese Contingent of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for its contribution to the maintenance of peace and security in Liberia.

The UN envoy recounted the valuable work of the Chinese contingent, comprising the Transport and Engineering Companies and the Medical Unit.

She highlighted the contingent's recent logistical support it gave to the 2008 National Population and Housing Census, rehabilitation of a major road linking the southeastern region to the rest of the country, and the provision of health services to vulnerable Liberians.

Madam Løj spoke at the weekend when she awarded UN peacekeeping medals to 137 UNMIL Chinese soldiers at a colourful ceremony in the Monrovia suburb of Bushrod Island.

In the current drawdown phase of UNMIL, the SRSG reminded the Chinese peacekeepers that the work of the Mission in Liberia was not finished.

"We still have very important work to do; there is a lot of peace building work to be done to ensure that Liberia does not slide back into conflict and chaos; members of the Chinese Contingent will have important contributions to make in this regard," she pointed out.

Ms. Løj urged the Chinese peacekeepers and all UN staff to continue working hard to help Liberia get back on the path of freedom and prosperity, while at the same time maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct.

The Contingent Commander Lt./Col. Zheng Jianqing commended the UNMIL leadership for the support provided to his contingent in the discharge of its tasks and pledged to continue to be ambassadors of peace and will write a new chapter in Chinese peacekeeping history.

Attending the medal award ceremony were the Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law, Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, UNMIL Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, among others.

Currently, the 558 member Chinese peacekeeping contingent in UNMIL is the largest in all UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. They provide logistic support to UNMIL deployments around the country, including support with the rotation of troops, the transportation of water, fuel and other materials which ensures the Mission's operations for the reconstruction of Liberia.

Additionally, the Chinese contingent supports other UNMIL personnel and troops, including the maintenance, repair and construction of main supply routes, airfields, helipads and bridges, and providing medical care to staff members.