Feature: Chinese blue helmet in Liberia embraces new-born son via cell phone

At about 6:00 a.m. local time on Friday, Sergeant Tang Shaoluo, a Chinese soldier, was anxiously waiting at the camp of the Chinese medical peacekeeping center in Monrovia, Liberia, without a minute's sleep during the night.

At 7:18 a.m., Tang heard the first cry of a new life through the telephone line from his mother country thousands of miles away. Learning that his son had come to the world, tears burst out from his eyes.

The tears were triggered by mixed feelings -- the excitement to become a new dad, the feeling of guilt for not being at his wife's side, and a deep sense of homesickness.

Tang, together with the other soldiers at the camp, arrived at Liberia in September 2015 to take part in the peacekeeping mission in this west African country. Before departure, he learned that his wife was pregnant, but he decided to obey orders and carry on with the mission.

A tropical country along the Atlantic Ocean, Liberia has been plagued by civil war and poverty. Here Tang works as a military driver, helping with casualty evacuation and transporting doctors to local villages.

The first time Tang went on duty, he was shocked by the road in front of him. In fact it was nothing like a road. It was just a muddy channel through the forest, with a width barely enough for a car to go through. A total distance of only seven kilometers took Tang nearly an hour to drive.

In the past eight months, Tang and his fellow comrades had travelled a total of 4000 kilometers, and completed all their missions safely.

When he was free, Tang would make phone calls to his wife, who suffered a lot during the early stage of her pregnancy. He felt badly sorry for not being able to take care of her.

Looking at the pictures of his son, Tang's heart flew across the ocean back to China. "We will return to our home country in one month and I am already imagining the scene of embracing my son and my wife," he told Xinhua with a blushing smile.

"Before going back to my home country, I will do my best to fulfill my duty here in Liberia," the soldier added.

On the same day, the Chinese peacekeeping force in Liberia participated in the commemoration ceremony of this year's International Day of UN Peacekeepers, and paid tribute to all devoted peacekeepers, some of whom have even sacrificed their lives for the cause.

A total of more than 200 peacekeepers from China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh as well as Liberian soldiers and police officers took part in the ceremony, which included parades, laying of wreaths, raising of flags and a photo exhibition.

At the parade, Chinese peacekeepers, in their blue helmets and holding rifles, marched in high spirit and absolute uniformity, attracting the audience's attention.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29, is a day to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication, and courage and to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

According to UN statistics, 129 peacekeepers from 50 countries died last year due to malicious acts, accidents and disease. Since 1948, the death toll is nearly 3,500.

Currently, there are 16 peacekeeping operations deployed in countries and regions including Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Kosovo, and Liberia. Endi