Peacekeepers join holiday parade

Soldiers undergo training for the upcoming National Day military parade in Beijing, on Sept 17, 2019. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING, China (ChinaDaily) — Chinese peacekeepers will march for the first time in the military parade celebrating New China’s 70th birthday on Tuesday, signifying the country’s strong capability and commitment to maintaining global peace and prosperity.

It will be the only infantry formation in the parade where troops don their field combat equipment, including rifles, battle fatigues and their iconic blue berets.

All participants have been deployed to United Nations peacekeeping operations, ranging from Lebanon to Mali.

Zhang Bingjian, one of the peacekeepers set to march in the parade, said the People’s Liberation Army’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations showcases its character as a defender and lover of peace.

“Joining the military parade is the dream of every Chinese soldier, and it is an upmost honor for me personally,” he said. “By successfully fulfilling our parade mission, we hope to showcase the strength, peace-loving and responsible image of the Chinese military.”