Long arm of the law reaches out
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Dozens of foreign students had an arresting time on Saturday when they hung out with local police officers during a day that was both a celebration of culture and an opportunity to find out more about Beijing's rules and regulations.
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A foreign student gets to grips with an assault rifle at Beijing Language and Culture University. |
The open day that attracted at least 160 students from overseas was organized by the Division of Exit-Entry Administration of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and held at the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).
Students from countries including the United States, Japan and Germany checked out 20 information boards that contained details about such things as how to apply for a visa or residency permit and how to get help in an emergency, as well as security advice.
The information center handed out information in English, German, Spanish, Japanese and Korean.
In addition to giving the students an opportunity to load up on useful information, the day was also about celebrating culture and featured performances by students that included dances from the Cameroon and Hawaii and songs from both foreign students and police officers.
"This activity set out to provide a chance for foreign students to integrate with local cultures through joint performances, as well as safety tips from the police," said Xu Jie, a spokesman from the Division of Exit-Entry Administration.
Last year, Beijing received more than 110,000 foreign nationals who stayed in the capital for more than six months.
And more than 40,000 students from overseas are now undertaking long-term studies in Beijing, according to Xu.
Foreign students at the event on Saturday welcomed the chance to take part.
"This activity is very creative," said Mirzoew Behruz, a freshman from Tajikistan who has been in Beijing for four years.
"The activities and interaction impressed me and made me feel that the capital's police are friendly. That is why I do not feel lonely in a city far away from my country."
Kishore Kumar Biswas, a student from Bangladesh who is studying for a doctoral degree at Peking University, agreed.
"The interaction is very good and draws the students and the police closer together," he said.
Biswas added that he was eager to take the opportunity to find out more about the capital's traffic regulations, especially those governing electric bicycles.
Special members of the police force also turned heads by showcasing some of their equipment, which included sniper rifles and bulletproof vests and the Type 95 Assault Rifle.
Members of the squad let students hold some of the weapons in an interactive activity that was one of many hands-on events featured this year for the first time.
"The interaction should not be confined to information delivery but also serve as a chance to integrate foreign cultures and the local culture," said Lin Song, an employee with the Division of Exit-Entry Administration.
Similar activities will be held next year, said Xu.
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