Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu inspected police road checkpoints in a city near Beijing on Tuesday and stressed the need to secure the upcoming Olympics.

Meng, also State Councilor, oversaw the implementation of the "city moat project" for the Olympics in Langfang City, Hebei Province.

The project, a security network that combines the efforts of police in Beijing, its neighboring city of Tianjin and Hebei Province to secure the capital, is a significant component of the Olympics security plan.

Meng inspected police equipment and asked about the management and use of guns and explosive detectors.

He said the police face new challenges with the heavy task of guarding the public security.

The public security departments should standardize use of guns, enhance the awareness of self-protection of the police, and improve the capability of preventing and solving crimes, to create a safe social environment for a successful Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2008)