A 275-strong squad of Chinese troops left Beijing Thursday aboard a chartered plane for Liberia to join the United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in the west African country.

Another 283 Chinese peacekeeping troops will leave for the country on Dec. 27.

Totalling 558, they will be the 11th contingent of Chinese peacekeeping troops to Liberia and will assume a 8-month-long mission.

Among them, a team of 275 troops will be responsible for construction of roads, bridges and bunkers, repair and renovation of houses and airports, and building and maintenance of water and electricity supply facilities in Liberia.

Another 240 will aid in transportation of personnel and materials and 43 more will offer medical treatment and epidemic prevention services.

Under the UN Security Council Resolution 1509, China started dispatching peacekeepers to Liberia from December 2003 and so far has sent a total of 5,580 peacekeepers to the country.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2010)