Broadcasting Time: 2006-11-10




(Photo: sina.com.cn)

Hello, and welcome to this edition of Life in China. I'm Ning Yan. In today's program, we will join in on a tour of people portraits. First, we will meet an experienced police supervisor who has worked as a peacekeeper in Afghanistan. We will then share the story of a pedicab driver who has pursued his college dream for 20 years. Finally, in western China's Xinjiang, we will meet 30-something policeman, Asihaer, who has earned his fellow countrymen's respect through his efforts to safeguard his homeland. For all this and more, please stay tuned to Life in China.

This year marks a special milestone in the international community's drive for peace.

It's the 50th anniversary of the world's first United Nations peacekeeping mission. In today's program, we commemorate the milestone by introducing the audience to a Chinese police supervisor about his experiences as a peacekeeper in Afghanistan.

Here's Manli with the story.

1956 is the year the Suez crisis broke out, the standoff in the Middle East that pitted Egypt against Israel, Britain and France, and threatened to draw the world into war.

It's also the year the first UN peacekeeping mission was established, the multinational force from UN countries dispatched to resolve the crisis.

The peacekeepers were sent to enforce a ceasefire in Egypt and oversee the pull-out of foreign forces.

It was a ground-breaking approach with a lasting influence on the way the international community deals with conflict and unrest in different corners of the world.

In 1988, the UN Peacekeeping Forces were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for their role they've played as ambassadors for the global community's desire to resolve conflict through peaceful methods.

China has been involved in peace-keeping missions since the 1980s and Chinese servicemen can be found among the UN peacekeepers in the world's most troubled hot spots.

They have committed themselves to roles that involve negotiation, supervision, rescue operation and rebuilding. They risk their safety and lives, and have won the respect of the world for their work and dedication.

Abdulhadi is an engineer from Afghanistan. He is impressed with the Chinese police officers charged with upholding peace in his country.

"The UN peacekeeping force came here to ensure security for us because reconstruction of the country requires a peaceful environment. In the UN peacekeeping forces, the police officers from China are excellent. They have no doubt contributed significantly to ensuring security and peace in our country."

Thanks to the hard work of the Afghan people and government, great achievements have been made in rebuilding the war-torn country since the war ended four years ago.

But multinational UN forces are still stationed in the country to ensure a peaceful environment.