Border security clamp for Expo
By Tini Tran |
April 28, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA will temporarily close its borders with neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on Friday, in an apparent bid to tighten security ahead of the opening of the Shanghai World Expo on Saturday.
China has beefed up its security preparations in the run-up to the Expo, a headline event expected to draw 70 million visitors during its six-month run.
Many world leaders will attend the opening day.
An official at the Dulata Entry Port with Kazakhstan, surnamed He, confirmed that the borders would be closed for five days, from April 30 until May 4.
May 1 is celebrated as a national holiday in China.
A staff member who works at the Torugart Entry Port, one of the two with Kyrgyzstan, said he didn't know the reason for the closure.
"I just heard it will be closed for the May 1 Labor Day holiday," he said.
At a regularly scheduled news conference in Beijing yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu denied knowledge of the border closure, but said: "We have reminded the Kyrgyzstan side to enhance security measures to safeguard the security of Chinese citizens and organizations there."
Kyrgyzstan has been wracked by political turmoil after its President, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was deposed in a riot on April 7 that left 85 people dead in the capital.
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass, reported yesterday that China had decided to temporarily close the border with Kyrgyzstan, citing sources in the Kyrgyz border services. It did not give a reason.
Earlier this year, Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu warned police to prepare for any possible emergencies or terrorist attacks during the World Expo, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Chinese police will be on alert for violence and civil disturbances such as protests that might cause instability.
Meng was quoted by Xinhua as saying police would need to concentrate on coping with "complicated situations." It did not give details.
China has beefed up its security preparations in the run-up to the Expo, a headline event expected to draw 70 million visitors during its six-month run.
Many world leaders will attend the opening day.
An official at the Dulata Entry Port with Kazakhstan, surnamed He, confirmed that the borders would be closed for five days, from April 30 until May 4.
May 1 is celebrated as a national holiday in China.
A staff member who works at the Torugart Entry Port, one of the two with Kyrgyzstan, said he didn't know the reason for the closure.
"I just heard it will be closed for the May 1 Labor Day holiday," he said.
At a regularly scheduled news conference in Beijing yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu denied knowledge of the border closure, but said: "We have reminded the Kyrgyzstan side to enhance security measures to safeguard the security of Chinese citizens and organizations there."
Kyrgyzstan has been wracked by political turmoil after its President, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was deposed in a riot on April 7 that left 85 people dead in the capital.
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass, reported yesterday that China had decided to temporarily close the border with Kyrgyzstan, citing sources in the Kyrgyz border services. It did not give a reason.
Earlier this year, Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu warned police to prepare for any possible emergencies or terrorist attacks during the World Expo, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Chinese police will be on alert for violence and civil disturbances such as protests that might cause instability.
Meng was quoted by Xinhua as saying police would need to concentrate on coping with "complicated situations." It did not give details.
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