The China Police Association (CPA), which aims to uphold police authority and rights, was officially established in Beijing on Monday.

Its predecessor, the Police Science Society of China, was set up in 1992, according to a CPA spokesperson.

The new organization has some new functions, the spokesperson said, including collecting views and complaints from the general public, coordinating public relations and liaison, and protecting police rights.

The association will also be involved in research and international exchanges, the spokesperson added.

Zhou Yongkang, a state councilor and member of both the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC), extended his best wishes to the CPA, saying, "We should make the association a 'home of police'."

The association must help the police nationwide to consolidate the CPC's leadership and maintain social stability, he said.

According to Zhou, it will also benefit relations among police offices, reinforcing coherence and effectiveness, and increase understanding with the general public.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)