China's public security authority vowed yesterday to further upgrade its technology and equipment by learning from developed countries and by speeding up technological exchanges between Chinese police and their foreign counterparts.

"Great efforts should be made to upgrade police equipment," said Tian Qiqu, vice-minister of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), "because the speedy development of police technology and equipment is the cornerstone of public security work."

Tian made the remarks at the opening of the first China International Exhibition on Police Technology and Equipment which opened yesterday and will run through Friday in Beijing.

Approved by the MPS and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the event attracted 110 exhibitors from 18 countries including Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the United States; as well 153 domestic factories, said sources with the Organizing Committee of the event. Exhibits ranged from police helicopters, arms, protective and telecommunication equipment to police vehicles and uniforms.

In recent years, Chinese police have upgraded their equipment at a fast speed by utilizing the latest technology. However, equipment used by Chinese police is far from satisfactory due to the lack of unified standardization and the gap between eastern and western regions, experts say.

Due to its fast economic development and because of the preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China will become an important police equipment market in the future, said Bertrand Marechaux, president director-general of the CIVI-POL Conseil from France.

According to Marechaux, there are 25 police equipment companies attending the on-going exhibition.

The exhibition will become a biannual event starting year, organizers said.

(China Daily June 12, 2002)