315 Chinese engineering soldiers to go Darfur

China will send engineering troops to Sudan's Darfur region next month as part of UN operations. 315 engineering soldiers are busy training in central China's Henan province for their new mission in the war-torn region.

Road construction, bridging, temporary residence building and well digging all these are the missions for the soldiers to accomplish once they getto Darfur.

In Saturday's demonstration, the soldiers looked confident about their new mission on a continent they are totally unacquainted with.Their commander said the soldiers have also had training on UN peacekeeping policies and the culture the region they are going to.

Shangguan Linhong,commander of Multifunctional engineering unit, said, "We may have many difficulties working in a remote place. but no difficulty can prevent us from achieving our goals."

The engineering unit to be sent to Darfur is part of the third phase of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan to resolve the Darfur issue.

China has sent 80 million yuan worth of aid to ease the humanitarian crisis in the region.

China's stance that the issue should be resolved through political means on the basis of equality has also be recognized by the parties concerned.

Dai Shaoan,vice director of peacekeeping office, Ministry of Defence,said, "The peace keeping engineering unit to be sent to Darfur shows that China is playing an active and responsible role in resolving the Darfur issue. The troops will leave in October."

There are currently 1,648 Chinese military officers and soldiers serving in 10 UN missions and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.