Members of the medical team of the 14th batch of Chinese peacekeeping force for Liberia receive flowers during a departure ceremony in Tianjin, north China, Nov. 13, 2012. The first batch of a 43-member Chinese medical personnel group left for Liberia on a eight-month UN peacekeeping mission here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun)
A first squad of 558 Chinese troops assigned for the United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in Liberia departed on Tuesday aboard a chartered plane.
The second and final squad will set off for the west African country 10 days later.
Comprising 275 engineers, 240 members of the infantry and 43 medical staff, all from the Beijing Military Area Command, the troops will assume an eight-month-long mission in Liberia, replacing a previous Chinese peacekeeping team.
Their duties will include constructing roads, bridges and bunkers, repairing houses and airports, maintaining water and electricity supply facilities, transportation, as well as medical treatment and epidemic prevention.
This is the 14th Chinese peacekeeping detachment to Liberia. China started dispatching peacekeepers to the country in December 2003 under UN Security Council Resolution 1509.
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