UNITED NATIONS - China will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping operations and make greater contributions to world peace and development, a Chinese general said Wednesday.

Major General Xu Nanfeng, head of the Chinese delegation to the UN Military Staff Committee, made the remarks to senior UN officials, including UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy and diplomats at a reception marking China's Army Day observed on August 1.

This year marks the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Xu said it is an important mission for the PLA to maintain world peace and promote common development, and China has actively participated in the UN peacekeeping missions.

The PLA has also carried out military exchanges and cooperation with other countries and engaged in strategic consultations and dialogues on regional security cooperation, Xu said.

For his part, Le Roy said he is grateful for China's participation in the UN peacekeeping missions, saying he is very pleased with the "professionalism and dedication of Chinese peacekeepers, as well as the quality of their performance."

China is now a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and has the largest number of UN peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Over the past 21 years, the PLA has deployed a total of 15,000 peacekeepers to 20 UN peacekeeping missions. At present, around 2,000 Chinese officers and soldiers are involved in 10 of the 15 UN peacekeeping operations.