Twenty-five Chinese peacekeepers, part of a UN peacekeeping mission to Sudan, left Beijing yesterday for the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

China plans to send a total of 435 peacekeepers in response to an appeal by the UN Security Council (UNSC). The peacekeepers will be mainly responsible for rebuilding infrastructure facilities, destroying weapons, and assisting other peacekeeping forces in the area.

The Chinese detachment comprises personnel from the Jinan Area Command of the People's Liberation Army.

On March 24, 2005, the UNSC adopted a resolution to send peacekeepers to Sudan to facilitate a North-South peace agreement.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)