BEIJING -- The Ministry of National Defense (MOD) on Monday started an international training course for military observers of the United Nations (UN).

More than 40 military personnel, including Chinese training instructors and foreign attaches to China from 22 countries such as Australia, Denmark and the United States, gathered in Beijing to attend the three-week training course.

The sessions will be oriented around UN peacekeeping missions and will be in English. Courses will include a range of topics including case analysis and simulation drills.

Combat exercises will cover 14 themes such as conflict mediation, field rescue, and kidnap and ransom response. Attendees will be evaluated throughout the whole course.

The UN has more than 1,800 military observers deployed around the globe. China has dispatched 1,670 military observers since 1990, when it started participating in UN peacekeeping missions.