The 15th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to South Sudan (Wau) sent 25 peacekeepers to the city of Aweil in the country's northwest Tuesday on engineering support assignments.
The group of peacekeepers will perform such duties as building airport runways, shelters, ammunition depots, hardened sites, and drainage systems in Aweil.
The 15th contingent began their one-year peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) last December.
So far, the contingent has deployed peacekeepers to four bases in Wau, Kuajok, Romich, and Aweil, and repaired a total of 251 kilometers of roads in the states of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Unity.
They have also provided infrastructure support to the UNMISS.
Chinese engineer contingent in South Sudan dispatches 25 peacekeepers to Aweil
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
