The bodies of two Chinese peacekeepers who were killed in violence in South Sudan have arrived in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province, where their company is based. Around 500 people were at the airport to pay tribute to the soldiers.

The bodies of two Chinese peacekeepers who were killed in violence in South Sudan have arrived in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province.

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, a plane carrying the bodies of U.N. peacekeepers Li Lei and Yang Shupeng touched down at Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan province. Seven months ago, their relatives would never imagined welcoming their loved ones home in this way.

Last December, at the same airport, Li and Yang, together with 700 other peacekeepers, left China. They were heading to South Sudan for a one-year posting with the U.N. peacekeeping force. Two days before he was killed, Li Lei celebrated his 22nd birthday. He had pledged to have devoted his life to the Communist Party of China in his final moments.

China’s Foreign Ministry has asked the Chinese embassy in South Sudan to initiate an emergency response, and it has helped enhance security for Chinese people and companies in the country.