Deployment in Kuacjok, a painstaking journey to Raga, a long march to Rumbek and four expeditions to Marple. Building camps, repairing runways and constructing roads…

Since arriving in South Sudan in November last year, the 10th Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment has accomplished more than 150 tasks in five regions, winning high recognition from UN officials, the local government and people and peacekeepers from other countries. It is well known in its mission area for the 13 letters of gratitude it has received, which testify to Chinese peacekeepers' outstanding performance and achievements.

An administrative officer of the UN base in Wau said in a letter that the governor and officials of Western Bahr el Ghazal were grateful to the Chinese engineering corps for its contribution to the state's development at their weekly meeting. The officer said he was proud of the Chinese peacekeepers' excellent performance, while thanking them on behalf of all UN personnel at the base.

The Joint Logistics Operations Center of the UN Mission in South Sudan sent a letter of gratitude after the Chinese engineer corps helped transport a heavy forklift.

On January 15, when a transportation contingent of the Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment was about to return from Raga, the center requested help in transporting a heavy forklift--which had been stranded there because of the UN's insufficient container transportation capacity--back to the Wau base. According to UN regulations, the task was beyond the mandate of the Chinese engineering detachment. In its letter, the center expressed its appreciation and gratitude for the generous assistance.

A letter from the transportation control department of the Wau base recounted the Chinese engineering detachment's rescue efforts during a plane accident several months ago. At 2:30 p.m. on February 28, the former called the latter asking for its assistance after a small passenger airplane overshot the runway and caught fire during landing in the Wau airport.

In accordance with its contingency plan, the Chinese engineering detachment rushed to the airport with rescue equipment such as a water tanker, a crane, a loader and fire extinguishers. After two hours of hard work, Chinese engineers managed to remove the plane and helped restore order at the airport. Their rapid response and professional rescue operations were widely applauded.

While fulfilling UN peacekeeping tasks, the Chinese engineering detachment did its best to help local residents. Wau Mayor Michael Gaeba Ukel wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Huo Hongkai, Commander of the detachment, to thank Chinese engineers for their assistance in building roads, digging wells and constructing the city's first bus station. He also granted honorary certificates to the engineers. He said Chinese engineers presented Wau a number of precious gifts, which he considered as China's mark left on the land of South Sudan.

The 13 letters are not only evidence to Chinese peacekeepers' efficiency and high standards of service, but also a testament to their contributions to world peace.