BEIJING - China on Friday night saw off its first police squad for South Sudan who will take part in the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the African country, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement Saturday.

The 14-member squad, composed of police officers from southwestern municipality of Chongqing, departed from Beijing at 11 pm Friday, the statement said.

The squad includes staff from the departments of departure and entry, fire-fighting, criminal investigation, public security, training as well as traffic and patrol.

Members of the police squad have received a training course on international law and first aid, among other things, and are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills for peacekeeping.

According to the ministry, China has sent more than 1,700 police for UN peacekeeping missions to Timor Leste, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan since January 2000.

South Sudan declared independence on July 9 this year, and China recognized its status as an independent country on the same day.

On July 8 this year, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution to send 7,000 soldiers and 900 police in its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.