The troop is also equipped with a lot of Chinese-designed and manufactured military equipment, in another major difference from previous missions.

To adopt to the hot climate and the serious security situation, Zhang Geqiang, head of the contingent, led many special training programs for his team to enhance their physical and psychological capabilities.

The security forces also underwent exercises such as anti-terrorism drills and handling large public events.

The hard training program impressed UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous. On his last trip to China in October, Ladsous inspected the troop in Harbin and said the Chinese peacekeepers were the best he had met, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Ladsous said the situation in Mali is very unstable with extremists rampant in the region, so the Malian government needs help from the international community to restore law and order.

"I am very happy to see China contribute to the peacekeeping mission in Mali. Besides the engineering and medical crews, the troops to Mali also include security forces. This is also a big step for China in the UN's peacekeeping mission," Ladsous said.

More Chinese service members will head to the African country early next year, with nearly 400 personnel expected to work on the Mali mission.