A large exposition of security and police equipment and technologies opened in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province Tuesday, offering opportunities for overseas and Chinese mainland firms to expand their presence in the mainland market.

The Guangdong International Exposition on Public Safety, Security and Police Equipment has attracted more than 200 companies and manufacturers displaying their latest technologies and products in anti-terrorism and crime-fighting sectors.

And 60 of them have come from outside the mainland, with overseas participants mainly from the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan, South Korea and China's Taiwan Province.

Anti-theft electronic doors, gas protection equipment including gas masks and protective clothes, anti-biotics and anti-chemical clothing and other high-tech electronic products are major exhibits at the show that ends on Friday.

Zheng Shaodong, deputy director-general of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Security, said the special show provides a good chance for his bureau to purchase new equipment and technology to upgrade the province's police equipment and expand international cooperation.

"Guangdong police will introduce more advanced and high-tech technologies and equipment to help fight crime in the future," Zheng said at the opening ceremony.

Lectures and seminars help promote exchange and co-operation between Chinese mainland police and their overseas counterparts. An official from Science and Technology Department under the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Security said Guangdong Province has decided to spend a large sum of money to purchase new police equipment and technologies this year.

To ensure a good and sound social order for economic construction, more new equipment and technologies, including police helicopters, anti-chemical warfare vehicles, riot tanks that can be used in both land and water and satellite telecommunication equipment will be put into use in the fight against crime in the southern Chinese province this year, he added.

Two police helicopters were put into service in Guangdong last year.

(China Daily May 12, 2004)