A senior Chinese public security official said on Thursday the government had taken effective measures to tackle threats and is confident the Beijing Olympics would be smooth and safe.

Meng Hongwei, Vice Minister of Public Security, was speaking at a meeting of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Meng said the measures included a powerful anti-terrorism force, enhanced intelligence gathering, strict precautions against potential threats, and the public was also on high alert.

"Big events like the Olympics are always the targets of terrorist attacks," Meng said.

He said Chinese society was stable and harmonious, and the Chinese people were acting concertedly, constituting solid basis for safe Olympics.

China cooperated extensively with other nations and international organizations such as the SCO in fighting terrorism, Meng said.

The meeting on Thursday and Friday in Beijing focuses on Olympic security and is attended by officials from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2008)