Rome and Milan jointly patrolled by Italian & Chinese police

World Today

China and Italy have agreed to allow Chinese police officers to help patrol the streets of Rome and Milan.

The patrols are meant to help Chinese tourist,s and Italy’s growing Chinese community, to communicate better with authorities.

It’s the first agreement of its kind between Beijing and an EU country. CCTV America’s Jim Spellman reports.

At the famous Coliseum in Rome, an unfamiliar sight: Chinese police officers in uniform, on patrol alongside Italian officers.

It’s part of a program designed to make Chinese tourists feel safer when traveling to Italy.

About three million Chinese tourists visited Italy last year, but some travelers feel nervous in an unfamiliar city – especially following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels.

The visiting officers speak Italian, English, as well as Mandarin and provide a familiar face for visiting Chinese tourists.

Similar programs have been conducted in Italy with police officers from Spain and the United States.

Officials anticipate sending Italian police to China in the future and say the effort highlights the important ties between the two countries.

Chinese and Italian officials say this program could pave the way for deeper law enforcement and counter terrorism ties between the two countries.