Hundreds of Chinese soldiers received a special honor for their peacekeeping efforts at a United Nations camp in Mali. The medals are awarded to UN peacekeeping forces contributing a lot to human peace. The fifth Chinese peacekeeping force has been stationed in the north. CGTN's Frances Kuo has more.

Nearly 400 Chinese soldiers stood at attention at a United Nations camp in Mali to receive a special honor.

SGT. HAN LUO 5TH CHINESE PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO MALI "The Peace Medal of Honor represents the highest accolade to our peacekeeping efforts."

The medal recognizes contributions to human peace by UN peacekeeping forces.

ATM ANISUZZAMAN MINUSMA UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION "The dedication, the motivation and the discipline is the key for all the effective and successful work they have done so far."

This is the fifth Chinese peackeeping force to Mali- which has been battling Islamist extremists in the north. It's been in the country since 2013. China is one of the largest contributors of U-N peacekeeping troops in Africa. Last July, Chinese troops began a mission in Djibouti - to help in humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts in Africa and west Asia.

GENG SHUANG, SPOKESMAN CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "The establishment of the base will help Chinese vessels's escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia, and international obligations such as humanitarian rescue missions. It also stimulates the social and economic development of Djibouti."

Beijing emphasized it as a support facility -- to help establish security in the region.

GENG SHUANG, SPOKESMAN CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "It helps China to continue to make even greater contributions to the peace and stability of Africa and the rest of the world."

In 2015, president Xi Jinping announced China would set up a permanent U.N. peacekeeping force of eight-thousand troops and provide 100 million dollars to the African Union.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "Africa has the biggest peacekeeping needs. In the long run, the international community and the U.N. should support African countries in increasing their own capacity in keeping peace and stability so that African issues can be addressed in an African way."

For years, Chinese troops have also contributed to anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia. And sent military medical teams to nations battling the ebola virus. Beyond the African continent China also has troops in Lebanon trying to keep the peace on the border with Israel. According to the people's liberation army - as of last year, about 36-thousand Chinese have served in U.N. peacekeeping missions over nearly 30 years. Frances Kuo, CGTN.