Experts from seven nations gathered at a Beijing conference
Monday, contributing their ideas on security and counter-terrorism
for the upcoming 2008 Olympics.
International terrorism, highly-organized transnational crime
and security issues for large-scale sports events are on the agenda
for the conference, which is cosponsored by the Beijing Olympics
security headquarters and the United Nations Interregional Crime
and Justice Research Institute, said Ma Zhenchuan, director of the
Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Ma said Beijing has been updating police work and police
methods, improving equipment and boosting the overall quality of
police, in anticipation of the Olympic Games.
He said Beijing police will actively cooperate and communicate
with international experts and establish advanced security
mechanisms.
UN Deputy Secretary General David Veness said he appreciated
China's goal of a "safe Olympics."
"We have seen tragedies occur at some sports events in recent
years and do not want that to happen in Beijing," said Veness.
He hoped that Beijing could draw some valuable lessons from the
conference.
"China has already cooperated extensively with our organization
and we have witnessed the huge efforts made by China over the past
few years," said the official.
Beijing police have been testing security mechanisms since 2005
at many international sports events in the city, said Liu Shaowu,
deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security
Bureau.
Liu said the Beijing police's will continue to work on Olympic
security, and particularly risks represented by terrorism and
organized crime.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2006)