Chinese police on Saturday started a second joint patrol with their counterparts from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in order to maintain security along the Mekong River, a major regional transportation route.

Chinese police started a second joint patrol on Jan. 14, 2012, with their counterparts from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in order to maintain security along the Mekong River.?[Photo: Yunnan.cn]

The joint patrol fleet set sail at 7:30 a.m. from the Guanlei Port, located in Xishuangbanna prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan province, following a similar mission by the four countries about one month ago.

International transport on the Mekong River fully resumed after the four nations' law enforcement agencies conducted their joint patrol on Dec. 10 and stepped up cooperation to ensure the safety of the river.

Official statistics show that the Guanlei Port recorded more than 4,400 personnel exits and entries, as well as more than 13,400 metric tons of imported and exported cargo, between Dec. 10 and Jan. 13.

Passenger services on the river were suspended for four months after tourists were robbed in the river's "Golden Triangle" area in August. Shipping services were also halted after 13 Chinese sailors on two cargo ships were killed in the area on Oct. 5.