By Qu Fatong

BEIJING, Feb. 14 -- The 24th Chinese Peacekeeping Contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) completed the minefield clearance tasks at sites No. 1245 and 1248 and held a formal handover ceremony recently.

The ceremony was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon, the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the UNIFIL, the head of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and representatives of the Lebanese government forces.

Since their deployment to Lebanon, China's "Blue Helmets" have fulfilled their duties fearlessly and with great resolve. They have cleared a total of 2,000,000 square meters of minefields and removed more than 18,000 landmines, maintaining an unbroken record of zero accidents and zero casualties. Their efforts have built up layers of safety barriers for the local people.

Representatives of the Chinese peacekeepers and Lebanon government force sign on the handover document. (Photo by Qu Fatong)

Guests invited to the ceremony and Chinese peacekeeping demining soldiers posing for a group photo. (Photo by Qu Fatong)

The head of the UNMAS and representative of the Lebanese government forces inspect and accept the cleared minefield following demining operations by the peacekeeping troops. (Photo by Qu Fatong)

A newly installed identification sign set up by Chinese peacekeepers at the cleared site (Photo by Qu Fatong)