Security has been beefed up ahead of the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia to be held next week. An anti-terrorism patrolling mechanism has been set up, especially at railway stations around the city. The two-day event will focus on Asia's security situation and promote mutual dialogue and cooperation.

Police officers patrol the south square of Shanghai Railway Station on Wednesday. A ceremony was held to launch a joint armed patrol by public security and railway officers to counter terrorist attacks at major traffic hubs.

President Xi Jinping is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech, and a joint declaration is expected to be issued. Leaders of the member countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev are expected to visit China.

The summit was first established in 1993. It has now become a forum for dialogue and consultations, and also for promotion of confidence-building measures among its members on security and development. It now has 24 member states and 13 observer states and organizations.