UN photo exhibit shows PLA's progress

The Journey of Glory photo exhibition opened on Monday at UN headquarters in New York to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army.

Major General Huang Xueping, head of the Military Staff Committee of China's Permanent Mission to the UN, speaks at the opening of the Journey of Glory photo exhibition. Liao Pan/China News Service

It illustrates 90 years of achievements of the PLA, led by the Chinese Communist Party, in its fight for the independence and liberation of the Chinese nation; safeguarding the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the country; and participating in the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Major General Huang Xueping, head of the Military Staff Committee of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

It also shows that the PLA is committed to maintaining world peace and stability and continuously demonstrating China's responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Huang said.

"In UN peacekeeping missions, escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, the fight against the Ebola infectious disease in Africa and in international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, the images of the PLA are everywhere," Huang said.

The weeklong exhibition is composed of more than 60 photographs displayed on the first floor.

"China plays a significant role in the peace and security architecture of the United Nations, not only as a permanent member of the Security Council, but also as a significant financial as well as police and troop contributor to UN peacekeeping," said Alexander Zuev, assistant secretary-general for rule of law and security institutions in the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations, or DPKO.

Zuev said that in 2016 and 2017, China was the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping's budget from assessments on members, after the United States, contributing 10.29 percent of the total of $7.87 billion.

China is now 12th among 127 member states in providing troops and police to UN peacekeeping operations. China has more than 2,500 military and police personnel deployed in nine missions.

"I would like to commend Chinese peacekeepers for their high performance, discipline and operational efficiency during their service in UN peacekeeping operations," Zuev said.

Zuev said that at the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping in 2015, President Xi Jinping pledged a standby peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops and, at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial in September 2016, China joined five other countries in pledging units deployable within 60 days.

"DPKO is very grateful for China's increased contribution and continued support to UN peacekeeping," said Zuev.