UN Peace Medals were awarded on Wednesday to the 5th Chinese Peacekeeping Military Utility Helicopter Unit deployed with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and to the 23rd Chinese Peacekeeping Contingent that is part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The UN Peace Medals are a significant award established by the United Nations to recognize outstanding contributions to global peace and represents the highest honor bestowed upon peacekeeping personnel.
As well as the medals, the 5th Chinese peacekeeping helicopter unit received a commendation from the UNISFA commander in Abyei.
Since their deployment in late December 2024, the unit has undertaken aerial patrols, medical evacuations, passenger and cargo transport, and operational logistics support, accumulating over 1,980 flight hours, transporting more than 9,000 personnel and over 650 tons of cargo across 380,000 kilometers.
Liu Dong, a soldier with the Chinese helicopter unit said receiving the medal on Wednesday, which was aslo China’s National Day, meant a lot to him.
“Receiving the UN Peace Medal on National Day is very meaningful to me. The medal is not only an award but also an inspiration. I will remain true to the original aspiration, keep the peacekeeping oath in mind, continue to fulfill our mission, and live up to the trust placed in us by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people,” he said.
Since their deployment in mid-December last year, the 475 officers and soldiers in the 23rd Chinese Peacekeeping Contingent who received medals on Wednesday have been praised by local authorities and residents for their work.
They have cleared nearly 2,000 meters of blocked roads, transported over 700 cubic meters of explosion debris, cleared more than 70,000 square meters of battlefield, cleared 4,200 square meters of minefields, conducted 61 humanitarian aid missions, and treated over 3,300 patients.
Diodato Abagnara, commander of UNIFIL, praised the Chinese peacekeepers for “their discipline and the quiet dignity with which they wear the blue helmet”, and said their efforts have made a difference, “not only for unity, not only for Lebanon, but for the entire world”.
Lin Wanlei, commander of the 23rd Chinese Peacekeeping Contingent , said his officers and soldiers were determined to continue fulfilling their peacekeeping mission.
“This medal is not only recognition of the professional performance and dedication of all our officers and soldiers, but also full affirmation of the mission responsibility of China’s Blue Helmets who ‘come here for peace’. We will definitely live up to our mission and continue to fulfill our vow of ‘faithfully fulfilling our duty to safeguard world peace’ with concrete actions,” he said.
