On July 25, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Mr. Chen Chuandong, joined by peacekeepers from the 23rd Chinese peacekeeping contingent to Lebanon, military staff officers of UNIFIL, and the mayor of Khiyam, paid tribute to late Lieutenant Colonel Du Zhaoyu, who sacrificed his life as a UN military observer in Khiyam in 2006.

Ambassador Chen referred to Lieutenant Colonel Du Zhaoyu as a fallen hero who honoured his pledge with life to faithfully fulfill his mission and defend world peace, inspiring contingent after contingent of fearless Chinese peacekeepers. 

Ambassador Chen highlighted the year of 2025 as the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the 35th anniversary of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations. He said that the experience of war made us value peace all the more, and we must remember history, honour the fallen heroes, cherish peace, and forge a better future together. We must safeguard the post-war international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity.