Update | Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges 8,000 UN peacekeeping troops, US$1 billion to peace fund
Commitment will make Beijing one of the largest players in UN peacekeeping efforts
Watch: Xi says China "will never pursue hegemony"
China will contribute 8,000 troops to a United Nations peacekeeping standby force, China’s President Xi Jinping told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, a move that could make it one of the largest players in UN peacekeeping efforts.
Xi’s pledge comes as China attempts to show it is a responsible international player amid concern over its continuing military build up and territorial disputes with Asian neighbours.
China will also for the first time provide US$100 million in military assistance for African Union peacekeeping missions in the next five years.
Meanwhile, Xi said Beijing would commit US$1 billion to a 10-year joint China-UN peace and development fund.