STORY: A small feather carrying wish for world peace | Stories shared by Xi Jinping
DATELINE: June 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:38
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

STORYLINE:

This monument is dedicated to He Zhihong, a Chinese woman peacekeeper who died in the line of duty while serving in a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Haiti in 2010. She was just 35.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shared He's story at the UN peacekeeping summit in New York in 2015.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): XI JINPING, Chinese President
"Five years ago, we lost He Zhihong, a peacekeeping policewoman in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti. She left a four-year-old son and elderly parents. She once wrote: 'In this vast world, I may be just like a small feather. But even so, I want this feather to carry the wish for peace.' This was her wish, and it is also China's commitment to peace."

After graduating from Yunnan Normal University in 1998, He Zhihong became a border inspector in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan.

In 2007, she decided to join the sixth riot squad that China sent to Haiti and became a liaison officer.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HE WEI, Member of China's sixth riot squad to Haiti
"Upon arrival at the task zone (in Haiti), she immediately threw herself into the work. Her efforts laid a solid foundation for us to carry out our duties in a timely manner and to communicate, coordinate and cooperate with other peacekeeping police units."

In the challenging environment of Haiti, He demonstrated exceptional resilience and professionalism, whether in intense trainings or in dangerous tasks. He's unwavering commitment to duties earned her a good reputation.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHENG BENHUAN, Member of China's sixth riot squad to Haiti
"We once encountered a large-scale riot in Haiti. After the conflicts broke out, she had kept working non-stop for more than 30 hours. Her responsibilities were communication and translation."
　　
In June 2009, He once again served as a liaison officer with China's 8th riot squad to Haiti. Before leaving for the mission, she wrote in a letter to her husband and son: "Tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock, we will leave our motherland. The one thing that remains most dearly attached to my heart is my beloved baby Yunyun."

On January 12, 2010, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti. The headquarters of the UN Stabilization Mission collapsed. Eight Chinese peacekeepers, including He, lost their lives in the quake.

In 1990, China sent military observers to the UN, which marked the beginning of its participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

Over the past three decades and more, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to participate in UN peacekeeping missions in more than 20 countries and regions. A total of 25 Chinese peacekeepers have lost their lives during the missions.

In Sept. 2015, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the UN Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping.

Xi said, "Peace is the common aspiration and lofty goal shared by all of humanity. It was for the purpose of securing peace that the UN peacekeeping operations came into being. The UN peacekeeping operations have become an important means of upholding world peace and security."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)