Senior Chinese Leader Hails Peacekeepers Back From Haiti

Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang on Wednesday met with members of the eighth peacekeeping team to Haiti who have returned from the Caribbean country, hailing the team's fearless spirits and hard work during the Jan. 12 quake.

"In the face of the sudden earthquake, tough environments and dangerous missions, you finished all duties for peacekeeping and quake relief fearlessly and brilliantly," said Zhou, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, as he met with all 126 members of the team.

He extended his respect to all Chinese peacekeeping police.

Zhou said the team had won high praises from the United Nations and the government and people of Haiti.

"Meanwhile, we will never forget the eight peacekeeping heroes who died during the quake," he said.

The Haiti government estimated the 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than 200,000 people, injured and permanently disabled many thousands and left 1.5 million people homeless.

Zhou said ensuring world peace was the country's duty-bound task.

China dispatched its first peacekeeping team of 125 members to Haiti in 2004 after a coup in the country.

The eighth peacekeeping force returned Tuesday after a ten-month mission.

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2010)