DUSHANBE, September 10, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda yesterday received visiting delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of China (MPS), led by Vice-Minister of Public Security Lu Yanpi (phonetically spelled).

According to the Interior Ministry press center, the sides discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Interior of Tajikistan and China’s MPS in combating terrorism, extremism and separatism.

They reportedly expressed confidence that a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that will take place in the Tajik capital Dushanbe from September 11-12 will give a new impulse to further expansion of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the SCO member nations in combating transnational crime.

The Ministry of Public Security of the People''s Republic of China (MPS) is the principal police and security authority of the People''s Republic of China and the government agency that exercises oversight over and is ultimately responsible for day-to-day law enforcement. It is headed by the Minister of Public Security.  Prior to 1954, it was known as the Ministry of Public Security of the Central People''s Government.  The Ministry operates the system of Public Security Bureaus, which are broadly the equivalent of police forces or police stations in other countries.  Since the creation of the Ministry of State Security in 1983, the MPS has lost much authority and does not undertake paramilitary functions, which are now within the province of the People''s Armed Police, nor does it generally conduct domestic intelligence which since 1983 has been a primary responsibility of the Ministry of State Security.  Hong Kong and Macau have their own security bureaus/agencies and police forces.