Foshan fired up for police pistol shooting contest

The second International Police Sports Union (USIP) World Police Service Pistol Shooting Championship which kicked off on Wednesday in Foshan, a Pearl River Delta city, will help demonstrate Chinese police's graceful bearing and image and further promote Sino-foreign police cooperation and exchanges, organizers said.

Sandro L. Dirckx, secretary general of USIP, said having the event in China would comprehensively boost its scale, standard and influence.

"It will help promote the world police service pistol shooting and actual combat training and take a scientific and professional development path," Dirckx said at a press conference on Monday.

"It will also establish a comprehensive, multi-level and multidisciplinary new pattern for world police service cooperation and exchange, and mutual development and progress of world police forces," Dirckx he said. "China is a founding country and important member state of USIP and has maintained a long-lasting and friendly cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security."

Jiang Lida, director of the publicity department for Guangdong provincial public security, said the Ministry of Public Security and Guangdong provincial government attach great important to hosting the event, its first time in China. The first event was held in Hungary in 2015.

He said Guangdong police and relevant departments are going all out to ensure a successful championship in the province, which will serve as a window into China's reform and opening up.

More than 400 officials, diplomats and police officers from 73 countries and regions around the world are attending the event, which concludes Nov 19.