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Moscow, Beijing to enhance security ties
January 16, 2014, 3:15 am

Guo said Sino-Russia cooperation in law enforcement and security in recent years had played an important role in safeguarding national stability in the two neighbouring countries [Xinhua]

Guo (right) said Sino-Russia cooperation in law enforcement and security in recent years had played an important role in safeguarding national stability in the two neighbouring countries [Xinhua]

More than two weeks after a double suicide bombing killed 34 and injured more than 60 people in the Russian city of Volgograd, Moscow and Beijing have agreed to step up security ties.

Chinese Minister of public security Guo Shengkun vowed on Wednesday to ensure closer coordination between the security departments of China and Russia.

Guo met with a Russian delegation led by Sedov A. S. deputy director-general of the Russian Federal Security Service on Wednesday.

Guo said Sino-Russia cooperation in law enforcement and security in recent years had played an important role in safeguarding national stability in the two neighbouring countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Bali during the APEC summit last year that China and Russia would work together to maintain security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

China is stepping up its campaign against terrorism after a suicide attack at the Forbidden City overlooking Tiananmen square in October.

Authorities termed that incident a “terrorist attack” and have said that it was carried out by several people with links to a separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement from China’s far-western Xinjiang region, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

In November, a series of devices packed with ball-bearings exploded outside a provincial headquarters of China’s ruling Communist Party.

Meanwhile, three Russian servicemen and four gunmen were killed in a shootout in southern Russia on Wednesday during a sweep for militants before the Sochi Winter Olympics.

About 37,000 personnel are now in place to provide security in Sochi, which is on the Black Sea.

TBP and Agencies