China's second batch of quick reaction force for UN peacekeeping operations in Abyei, a territory contested by Sudan and South Sudan, has successfully completed its one-year mission and returned home.
The first echelon of 75 peacekeeping officers and soldiers arrived safely at an airport in north China’s Shanxi Province, aboard a Chinese Air Force Y-20 aircraft.
Since their deployment to the mission area in early May 2025, the peacekeepers have completed more than 900 authorized missions, including armed patrols, VIP escorts, and rapid response operations, with more than 10,000 personnel and more than 1,700 vehicles dispatched to perform the tasks, covering a total distance of more than 27,000 kilometers. During the missions, they overcame severe challenges such as the harsh natural environment, frequent armed conflicts, and shortage of supplies.
During the missions, the officers and soldiers also went to surrounding villages, schools and hospitals, carrying out more than 150 humanitarian aid activities, such as delivering water, helping students and comforting them, and providing free medical consultations in communities. They donated more than 10,000 items of supplies and provided medical assistance to more than 200 people, earning trust of and praise from the local people.
"One year of peacekeeping experience was both a challenge and an honor. It taught me how precious peace is, and tempered my will and character. In the future, I will carry forward the peacekeeping spirit in my job, forge ahead, and strive to make new achievements," said Guo Ya, a member of the quick reaction force.
According to the plan, the second echelon of the peacekeeping force will return to China and to their respective workplaces in the near future.
Chinese peacekeepers return home following year-long UN mission in Abyei
More than 20 students from Ivy League universities in the United States visited China's Southwest Jiaotong University in on Tuesday, where they got a first-hand look at a fast-moving technological innovation that could power future transportation.
The students paid a visit to a special demonstration lab in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, where they explored the world’s first high-temperature superconducting magnetic levitation prototype and test line, taking part in some fun hands-on experiments and even enjoying a brief trial ride.
Experts say the system could exceed speeds of 600 kilometers per hour, helping to further narrow the gap between high-speed rail and air travel.
The students' visit came as part of a week-long language and cultural exchange program, giving the young participants the chance to experience daily life in Chengdu while learning more about China.
The exchange event comes at a momentous time for China-U.S. relations, with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday wrapping up a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which marked the first such trip by a U.S. president in nine years.
The students taking part in the Chengdu activity said exchanges like the one they have embarked on can help deepen trust and expand cooperation between the U.S. and China.
"The positive signals I am hoping to see is that right now I see China and the United States as two powerful and very important countries in this world. But they also both have a lot of potential, and I think that if they work together, they can make some tremendous change across the world," said Alex Davenport, a student from Mount Holyoke College.
"America and China are two of the largest superpowers in the world right now, and I think politically and culturally it’s really great to communicate with one another," said Caroline Ewald, a student at the University of Pittsburgh.
Others are hoping that Trump's landmark visit will also help improve ties.
"That's probably the biggest thing I am look for is try to cool down the trade stuff that's going on in the U.S.," said McKenna Lundy, a student from the University of Michigan.
China is seen as a world leader in maglev technology. Last December, the country's Hubei East Lake Laboratory announced a groundbreaking achievement, with its test line accelerating a 1.1-tonne model train to an astonishing 800 kilometers per hour in just 5.3 seconds -- a milestone in electromagnetic propulsion research.
The technology is also proving its worth at more manageable speeds, with a restaurant in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen going viral earlier this year after it used magnetic levitation to serve food, with plates seen floating along tracks to arrive smoothly in front of each diner.
US students get taste of high-speed technology with visit to top maglev lab in Sichuan
