Chinese police officers on the beat in four Italian cities

Ten Chinese police officers began joint patrols in four Italian cities Monday, said the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

Four groups of officers will join their Italian counterparts for patrols in Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples from June 5 to 25.

The 20-day program also includes a Chinese-language hotline where calls are answered by Chinese officers who will help Italian police with security issues concerning Chinese tourists, the statement

said.

Chinese and Italian police officers patrol in Rome, Italy, on June 5, 2017. /CRI Photo 

China sent four police officers to Rome and Milan to conduct joint patrols in May 2016. This year, Florence and Naples, both popular destinations for Chinese tourists, were added and six additional officers were sent.

It's the latest program aimed at protecting the interests of Chinese tourists overseas, and will help expand and deepen China-Italy law enforcement cooperation, the statement said.

From April 24 to May 7, four Italian officers and their Chinese counterparts conducted joint patrols at tourist areas in Beijing and Shanghai, the first foreign police officers to carry out joint patrols in China.

According to government statistics, more than 800,000 Chinese and Italian tourists traveled between the two countries in 2016.

(Source: Xinhua)