China launched a program to set up a police force for its civil aviation sector, an aviation official said Tuesday.

Yang Yuanyuan, director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, said the move was designed to prevent and deal with hijacking and other illegal activity threatening flight safety.

Addressing a teleconference jointly held by the ministries of Public Security, Personnel and Finance and the aviation administration, Gao Hongfeng, vice-director of the administration, said the aviation police is a new type of police force in China and it is set up in accordance with laws and regulations.

China's aviation industry faces a complicated situation due to rampant international terrorism in recent years, said Yang, adding that the aviation police force is of great importance for airlines and airports to fight against terrorism.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2003)