He said that the Chinese military have established mutual trust and cooperation with the locals.

"The people in Gao quickly learned that Chinese peacekeepers are dear to them. The Chinese peacekeepers, through their actions, demonstrated that they were not imperialists who pressed the Malian people. Instead, their mission in the country was to relieve their pains and help them get rid of the crisis," Mara said.

The former prime minister said that maintaining peace would remain the top task for the Malian government over the next five years.

He hoped that the Chinese government will continue to provide help to Mali and maintain its peacekeepers in the country.

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali is the world body's deadliest active mission. More than 60 of its personnel have died on active service since it was set up in 2013 following a rebellion in the country by ethnic Tuareg fighters alongside armed groups.

China started contributing its peacekeepers to MINUSMA in 2013. Currently, nearly 400 Chinese peacekeepers are based in Gao, carrying out security, engineering and medical work.