A contingent of Chinese peacekeepers arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Wednesday for an eight-month UN peacekeeping mission.

The 218-strong group, comprised of both engineers and medical staff, constitutes the ninth peacekeeping team from China to be sent to the African country.

The soldiers, to be stationed in Bukavu, a city in eastern DRC, underwent intensive training before their departure.

The engineering troops will be engaged in constructing water and power facilities, building roads and maintaining airports.

Some soldiers of the medical unit had taken part in disaster relief work following the May 12 earthquake in western China's Sichuan province.

All 218 peacekeepers are from China's Lanzhou Military Area Command.

China first participated in UN peacekeeping missions in the DR Congo in 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)