China, Serbia launch joint police patrols in Belgrade

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - China and Serbia on Wednesday lunched joint police patrols in the Serbian capital Belgrade on Wednesday.

"Six Chinese police officers in joint patrols with Serbian police officers in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Smederevo will assist Serbian police officers in communicating with Chinese nationals residing in Serbia, as well as with their compatriots in communicating with our state authorities," the Serbian Interior Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

At a launching ceremony, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said the police officers will conduct joint patrols at several locations in the city that are considered either tourist attractions or important locations for Chinese citizens in order to make communication easier for them.

The ministry also said that Chinese police officers would not exercise police powers or be equipped with coercive means.

It also reminded that Chinese police officers participate in joint patrols in other countries of the region and in the European Union, so do Serbian police officers.