6 September 2011 - UNMISS Force Commander Maj. Gen. Moses Bisong Obi today awarded UN commendation medals in the Western Bahr El-Ghazal state capital of Wau to Chinese military who had completed their South Sudanese service in the area.

"On behalf of the Chinese Defence Ministry, I congratulate the Chinese military," said Senior Col. Wu Shuchen, Military Defence Attache with the Chinese Embassy in Sudan.

Sr. Col. Shuchen praised the Chinese military for their successful participation in 19 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. "The medal you are given is in honour of your dedication to duties," he said. The Chinese armed forces have been serving in UN peacekeeping since 1990.

Force Commander Obi praised the troops for their dedication to the mission.

"I am really impressed to be here and award UN medals of commendation to the Chinese military contingents in Wau," he said.

Maj. Gen. Obi acknowledged the role played by different Chinese units in the areas of engineering, transport and medical services.

"Chinese contingents have carried out their duties with commitment," said General Obi, praising the troops for a job well done and urging them to maintain the same standard in other missions.

The current Chinese contingent arrived in southern Sudan in March 2011 to begin service with the predecessor peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission in Sudan.

Gen. Obi said the successor mission, UNMISS, would focus on nation-building activities, protection of civilians and provision of support to the government of the fledgling Republic of South Sudan through capacity building.