The first Shenzhen policewoman to be chosen for a peacekeeping mission in East Timor began her training Saturday at a training base in Langfang, North China's Hebei Province.

Next Monday, Zuo will leave for Sydney, Australia, from where she will fly to East Timor.

Zuo's husband surnamed Han accompanied her on a China Southern Airlines' flight to Beijing on Friday. The airline provided them first-class seats and presented them a bouquet, 12 handmade paper cranes and model planes. Zuo received warm applause when an airhostess introduced her to other passengers.

"Florence Nightingale was awarded a London City Freedom Award for her care for wounded soldiers March 16, 1908. We have a special guest on board today, also on March 16," Cao Yang, the airhostess, announced.

"Zuo Lei, the first Shenzhen woman to be sent on a peacekeeping mission overseas, is with her husband here," she said.

In Langfang on Friday night, at the first meeting of the 10-person peacekeeping team, Zuo was warned again about the risk of dengue fever. "Many peacekeepers were infected, and one foreigner on the mission died recently. With annual average temperatures at 28 degrees Celsius, it's often around 40 degrees Celsius in March. While the presidential election will be held in May, it's the major task of this team to keep social order in the chaotic island nation," the team leader said.

In the next few days at the training base, Zuo and her teammates will get inoculation shots, prepare for the trip to East Timor, and learn to operate right-hand-drive cars.

"I will not disappoint those who care for me and perform my duties the best I can," Zuo said.

Editor: Donald