Multilingual hotline launched

Foreigners will be able to contact Beijing police using their respective languages during the APEC meetings, which run from Nov 5 to 11, if they have any problems or encounter emergencies, the capital's public security bureau said.

The bureau launched the system to provide services in various languages on Wednesday afternoon, with cooperation from Beijing Foreign Studies University, according to a statement from the authorities.

Under the arrangement, the university will provide translation services when foreigners call the police, as part of efforts to ensure the capital's security, the statement said.

Foreigners can dial the 110 hotline if they face difficulties or problems and volunteers from the university will reply and help them 24 hours a day, the statement said.