UN peacekeepers start training course in Beijing

Thirty-nine United Nation peacekeeping staff officers from 22 countries are taking part in a two-week training course in Beijing that began Monday, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

This is the first training course for UN staff officers organized by the ministry. Participants came from five continents and include countries such as Sweden, Pakistan, New Zealand and Mexico.

The courses are in English and have three modules: basic theory, professional skills and simulation drills, and cover 18 topics ranging from international law to crisis management. The simulation drills consist of strategic planning, operation design, resource logistics and 28 other subjects.

UN staff officers' primary duties are intelligence, operation, inspection, communication and training. They play a vital role in carrying out various peacekeeping missions, the ministry said.

The UN now has over 1,800 military observers and staff officers in 16 peacekeeping mission areas, including 93 from China.

Since 2016, the ministry has trained peacekeeping senior officers, female officers, military observers and staff officers from over 39 countries.

China is the second largest sponsor of UN peacekeeping operations and deployed more personnel than any nation in the Security Council - more than 30,000 personnel in 24 peacekeeping missions. China currently has 2,500 personnel on active duty spread across nine mission zones.