The body of Chinese peacekeeper Shen Liangliang -- who was killed in a UN mission in Mali -- is due to arrive in the northeastern city of Changchun this afternoon. That's where the troop he served with for 11 years is stationed.

On Wednesday, a memorial for Shen was held in Mali's captial Bamako. More than 200 people attended, including several high-ranking officials like the chief of the mission, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, China's ambassador to Mali, Lu Huiying, and Chinese general Su Guanghui.

Annadif underlined the "courage and commitment" of the almost 400 Chinese peacekeepers serving in Mali. China began sending troops to support the Mali mission in 2013. They carry out security, engineering and medical work.