PRISTINA, Serbia, May 10  -- Chinese police personnel were awarded medals here Thursday for their contribution to the UN peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo.

    Scott Anderson, acting police commissioner of the UN Mission in Kosovo, and Li Guobang, Chinese ambassador to Serbia, awarded the medals to 18 Chinese police officers.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Anderson said the Chinese police personnel had fulfilled their peacekeeping tasks and won praise from the UN mission and local residents.

    The Chinese ambassador congratulated the officers.

    As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has the obligation to contribute to peacekeeping operations, Li said.

    He said China had enhanced its participation in UN peacekeeping operations in recent years.

    China sent its first police contingent to join the UN peacekeeping operations in Kosovo in 2004. The fourth batch arrived here in October 2006 for a one-year term.