Peacekeepers brace for the DRC

　　China has just finished the establishment of its first peacekeeping force in the new century. Chief of the General Staff Liang Guanglie inspected an engineering company of the Chinese peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) January 22 in Beijing.

　　Liang listened to the engineering company's report on their preparation to the peacekeeping operation. After inspecting their equipment and munitions, Liang pointed out that as a new tough task of the PLA, the peacekeeping operation will provide China a chance to raise its prestige and to show its army's image to the international arena. He asked every member of the peacekeeping force to work hard for a successful operation, for the peace cause of human kind and for the glory of the country.

　　Deputy Chiefs of the General Staff Zhang Li and other senior officials from Headquarters of the General Staff were among the inspectors.

　　China plans to send a 175-member engineering company and a 43-member medical team as peacekeepers to the DRC. According to sources with the PLA, the engineering company was founded by an engineering battalion brigade directly under the PLA's Headquarters of the General Staff. The medical team was founded by a military hospital in the Shenyang Military Command. All the members have been trained collectively. With their equipment and munitions ready, they are set to embark on their journey.