KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday held a commemorative ceremony for two Chinese United Nations peacekeeping martyrs who lost their lives in a peacekeeping mission in the kingdom 30 years ago.
Held at the memorial monument of the two martyrs in Skun town in southeastern Kampong Cham province, the event was attended by Gen. Phuong Siphan, secretary of state of the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, and Senior Colonel Tang Hao, defense attache of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, as well as some 200 Chinese and Cambodian people.
Participants paid respect and laid wreaths to honor the two martyrs, namely Chen Zhiguo and Yu Shili, who were killed in a blast in 1993 during China's peacekeeping efforts and aid operations to Cambodia.
Speaking at the event, Siphan recalled that almost 800 Chinese UN soldiers were on a peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992, and a mid-night explosion on May 21, 1993 killed the two soldiers.
"The ceremony today is to pay our tribute to the two heroic Chinese peacekeeping martyrs, who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of seeking peace for Cambodia," he said. "We pray for them to rest in peace, and we will remember their heroism and sacrifice forever."
The event was held ahead of the Qingming Festival, a traditional Chinese festival to worship the ancestors and remember the dead, Siphan said, adding that this truly reflected the closer bond of fraternal friendship between the two countries and peoples.
Meanwhile, Tang said both Chinese martyrs lost their lives for the cause of peace, stability and happiness of the Cambodian people.
"Their sacrifice has greatly contributed to forging a closer bond of friendship and cooperation between our two countries and armies," he said. ■