A group of 279 Chinese soldiers, part of China's third batch of peacekeeping troops to Liberia, left for the west African country Saturday night.

Another group of the peacekeeping troops is scheduled to leave on July 19, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The third batch of Chinese peacekeeping troops consists of a 240-member transport contingent, a 275-member engineering contingent and a 43-member medical contingent.

The peacekeepers have had a two-month closed-door training in professional techniques, self-defense, and survival in field operations, as well as the laws and customs of Liberia, said ministry sources.

China has dispatched a total of 1,116 peacekeepers in two batches to Liberia, who well performed their duties entrusted by the United Nations.

In May this year, three Chinese military contingents for the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia were awarded UN medals for their contribution to the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2005)