China's police chief Meng Jianzhu on Sunday urged police officers nationwide to be sober-minded and work harder to maintain national security and social stability in the new year.

Meng, a State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, made the call via the ministry's video command system on China's traditional Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year.

Meng called for intense security efforts during the Spring Festival holiday and the upcoming annual sessions of the country's legislative and advisory bodies, the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), to be held in March.

He urged the police to intensify patrol and crackdown on law violations.

Meng also warned the police to keep alert and work for the security of the Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in southern city Guangzhou to be held later this year.

Meng conveyed greetings from the Chinese leadership to the police officers on duty during the holiday. He also greeted Chinese peacekeeping police in Haiti.