As China is integrating more deeply in the world order, its commitment will be shown with more practical contributions to the existing international system. [Special coverage]
One of its gifts will be to the United Nations. Addressing the UN General Assembly on Monday, President Xi Jinping said China will build an 8,000-strong standby peacekeeping force.
He added that the country will join the new UN peacekeeping capability readiness system, and take the lead in setting up a permanent peacekeeping police squad.
China has been contributing to peacekeeping missions since 1990. As it has got stronger over the past 25 years, its peacekeeping presence has grown, with more personnel and diversified tasks.
China has already become the biggest peacekeeping contributor among the five UN Security Council permanent members in terms of number of personnel. According to China's Ministry of National Defense, over 30,000 Chinese peacekeepers have served overseas, with 10 of them losing their lives.
The country has taken part in 24 UN peacekeeping missions in the past 25 years. Of the current 16 missions, Chinese peacekeepers are involved in nine.
In South Sudan, South Lebanon, Liberia and other mission areas, Chinese peacekeepers are building roads, clearing mines and treating local patients, showing their expertise and building friendships.
As one of the major missions of the UN, peacekeeping is a task of vital importance in the current situation, in which the world is facing regional and ethnic conflicts, humanitarian crises and other challenges.
The UN is the major global institution for peace and development. By supporting it, China is not only helping vulnerable countries address their difficulties, but also supporting the existing world order, rather than creating a new one to edge it out.
Xi said in the address that China will consider the UN's request of sending more engineering, transportation and medical personnel to join peacekeeping missions, and will train 2,000 foreign peacekeepers and carry out 10 mine-sweeping assistance programs in the next five years.
China's increasing role in peacekeeping missions has confirmed Xi's assertion that China is a participator, constructor, contributor as well as a beneficiary of the existing international system.
As the country is advocating a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation, its contributions to the UN and the current world order will continue to increase.
