The 19th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon Photo: VCG

The first-ever Chinese documentary film about China's first peacekeeping infantry battalion, Travel Blue Defensive Line, will release in theaters on Friday.

The documentary was filmed to mark the 30th anniversary of China's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. After five years of filming that started in 2015, the documentary film presents the officers and soldiers of the Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion taking on missions in South Sudan and protecting a local refugee camp. 

Soldiers appearing in the film reunited at the film's premiere in Beijing on Tuesday, taking time out to share stories that did not make it into the film. 

"In peacetime, choosing to go to some countries like South Sudan, which is in danger, and accept the test of life and death can truly show the spirit of Chinese soldiers," Lu Chengjun, one of the soldiers, said at the ceremony. 

Many people in the audience at the premiere were moved to tears while watching the film. Many told media that the film allowed them to truly understand what peacekeeping operations are for the first time.

The peacekeeping force in the documentary film was mainly responsible for protecting local residents in South Sudan and the staff of UN agencies, as well as joining in humanitarian relief and defense efforts such as providing security and going on patrols, according to reports. 

The year of 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of China's participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Since 1990, when China first sent military observers to the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), China has sent more than 40,000 peacekeepers to take part in 26 UN peacekeeping operations, China Military report said.

In addition to peacekeeping operations, since 1963 China has sent more than 26,000 medical workers to regions in 71 countries around the world in need of medical help, the Xinhua News Agency reported.