The Chinese Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing was a sea of humanity yesterday with dozens of new police helicopters, patrol cars and armored vehicles lined up in front of the building.
The occasion was the first International Exhibition of Police Equipment-China Police-2002.
With 110 manufacturers from abroad and 153 domestic firms displaying their cutting-edge technology products, the exhibition has become one of the hottest sites in the capital, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The exhibition aims to modernize police equipment and production technology in China," said Tao Junsheng, an organizing committee official who added that the event has drawn makers from 19 countries and regions.
Police departments from all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China's mainland have representatives at the exhibition, and many of them are in the capital to seal purchase deals, said Tao.
A variety of police helicopters, patrol cars, weapons, physical protection ware and police uniforms as well as equipment for the purpose of defense, telecommunications and criminal investigation have filled the 10,000-square meter exhibition center and its front square.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, presently Chinese police have only 10 helicopters, which are not adequate to meet the requirement, and authorities hoped to double the number in five years.
"In fact, numerous local police branches have contacted foreign manufacturers, seeking to buy helicopters," Tao said.
Dozens of visitors cluttered around the stand of U.S.-based E.C. Ryan Inter-national Inc., scrutinizing staff demonstrating a Microviper, a high-tech product, which can detect almost any faint traces at the scene of a crime by magnifying objects up to 200 times.
"After the September 11 incident, security has become one of the top issues for many countries, including China," said E.C. Ryan, owner of the company, adding that with the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China's police equipment market has a large potential.
( eastday.com June 13, 2002)
