A hand-over ceremony between the Chinese peace-keeping battalion and Ukrainian peacekeeping battalion of the UNIFIL was held on 9th April, 2006. The acting force commander of the UNIFIL presided the ceremony. Senior officer of the Ministry of National Defense of China in charge of peacekeeping affairs, Chinese ambassador to Lebanon, Deputy Chief of Staff of Ukrainian Army, Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon and other senior officials and officers attended the ceremony.

The Chinese peacekeeping battalion, consisting of 182 officers and soldiers, is the first peacekeeping force sent by the Chinese Government to the Middle East Region. The battalion which is deployed to Southern Lebanon will carry out missions such as demining, building and maintaining road, constructions and aircraft apron, and humanitarian assistance.