STORY: Chinese police officers join Croatia's Safe Tourist Season patrol
DATELINE: July 26, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:06
LOCATION: Zagreb
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of tourists in Zagreb
2. joint police patrol of Croatian and Chinese police officers in the central park in Zagreb
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Croatian): MISLAV SVIHIR, Zagreb Police Department
4. various of tourists in Zagreb
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XU JIANJUN, Police officer from China
6. various of tourists in Zagreb
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): LI YUN, Police officer from China
 
STORYLINE:
 
If you are a tourist visiting the Croatian capital, you might see some familiar faces in uniform. They are the Chinese police officers who are patrolling the streets of Zagreb with their Croatian counterparts as part of a special project.
 
The project, called Safe Tourist Season, aims to provide maximum security and assistance for foreign visitors in Croatia. It is a unique initiative that has been running since 2006 and has attracted the interest of other European countries.
 
Every year, during the peak tourist season, Croatia invites police officers from different countries to join its forces and patrol the most popular tourist spots. 
 
China is one of the countries that participates in the project. Since 2018, Chinese police officers have been coming to Croatia to support their colleagues and serve the growing number of Chinese tourists. 
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Croatian): MISLAV SVIHIR, Zagreb Police Department
"Every year a different group of Chinese police officers arrives in Croatia, but it feels like we have ever worked together. They are delighted with us as their colleagues, and we are pleased with them. But the most important thing is, Chinese tourists are pleased to see Chinese police officers here in Zagreb."
 
This year, eight police officers from China will patrol with their Croatian counterparts in the hot tourist spots of Zagreb, Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Plitvice Lakes National Park for a month.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XU JIANJUN, Police officer from China
"We are conducting the joint patrol with the Croatian colleagues and also the police officers from other countries. We met many Chinese tourists here, and they are very excited to see their countryman police officers here, and it improves their tourist experience, and they feel more comfortable and safer here in Croatia."
 
The project improves the experience of Chinese tourists in Croatia and brings trust and cooperation between the two countries to a higher level. With this year's eight Chinese police officers, so far a total of 30 Chinese police officers have joined the project. Along with the Chinese police delegation, police organizations from 18 other countries will participate in the project this year.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): LI YUN, Police officer from China
"We met many Chinese tourists because Croatia is a popular destination among Chinese tourists. When they meet us, they are very excited: Wow, you are here!"
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zagreb.
(XHTV)