Beijing police created a new department on Monday to liaise with
foreign security forces in helping prevent terrorist attacks during
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The setting up of the International Liaison Department (ILD),
under the 29th Olympic Security Command Center (OSCC), was
announced officially at a reception attended by foreign police
liaison officers and officials of embassies in Beijing.
The OSCC also launched the Beijing Olympic Security Website
yesterday.
Qiang Wei, chief of the 29th Olympic Security Coordination Group
(OSCG), said the ILD would cooperate with international
counterparts in checking transnational crime and terrorist
activities.
It will coordinate with police and Olympic security liaison
officers from Beijing-based embassies as well as Interpol.
Qiang praised Beijing's preparations in ensuring the overall
safety of the Olympic Games. He said the security arrangements
during August's 11th Women's World Softball Championship, the first
Olympic trial event in Beijing, were very successful and reflected
the country's preparedness to hold a smooth Olympics.
Beijing's security measures will be rigorously tested this year,
with 26 Olympic trial events scheduled mostly for the second half
of the year, Qiang said.
Despite the accomplishments, he warned that Beijing should
remain on high alert to ensure "a safe and harmonious" Games.
"Since the Olympics are one of the biggest international sports
events, they have been targeted by various international terrorist
organizations in the past," he said. Hence, it was important for
Beijing to take foolproof "preventive measures".
A safe Olympics is the common goal of the international
community, he said, adding that "this cannot be achieved without
sufficient international cooperation, especially exchanges and
contacts with the participating nations."
The Beijing Olympic Security Website, www.bjayab.cn, will serve as an
official Internet portal where people can inform themselves about
the security service and contact Olympic security officials for
inquiries and suggestions.
The website offers services in simplified and traditional
Chinese as well as English and French and has been designed to
bring OSCC's security preparation effort to the whole world's
attention.
At a press conference after the reception, OSCG Vice-Director Yu
Hongyuan introduced a list of seven Olympic security plans for
Beijing in 2007.
Yu said police were raising the number of staff in special
Olympic security offices and refining detailed plans for each and
every venue, hotel and hospital. They will target crime and traffic
problems as part of their efforts to ensure a peaceful and smooth
Games.
The overall security in Beijing is of equal importance to
police, Yu said.
(China Daily January 16, 2007)