BAMAKO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United NationsPeacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) Mahamat Saleh Annadif on Thursday visited the Chinese contingent based in the northern Malian town of Gao, after a terrorist attack that left one of them dead.

"We lost the first Chinese soldier in Mali. We condole with the families of the victim. However, we have a very difficult mission and we should continue. We should learn the lessons from the attack. To do this, we must use all the experience we have acquired, including during this tragedy," Annadif said when he addressed the Chinese contingent.

"We are here to tell you that we are together, to express our solidarity, to appreciate your resilience and courage and to inform you that we shall work day and night to guarantee your safety and security," the MINUSMA boss added.

MINUSMA said in a statement that besides the Chinese soldier who was killed, two other soldiers with serious injuries were evacuated to Dakar, Senegal.

Annadif reiterated the "determination of the UN force to continue with efforts to restore lasting peace and reconciliation in Mali."