A small group of Chinese police officers are in Italy, joining Italian officers in Rome and Milan on patrols in a two-week experimental project. The idea is to provide assistance to the rising number of Chinese tourists visiting the country. 

About three million Chinese tourists visit Italy per year. Starting Tuesday, two Chinese officers will be on hand to help tourists at major sightseeing spots in Rome, while another two will be doing the same in Rome.  And they'll be rotating cities in the second week.  A ceremony will be held today in the Italian Interior Ministry to mark the start of the project.

ROME, May 2, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police Shu Jian (1st L) and Sa Yiming (2nd L) talk with two tourists from Beijing outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, May 2, 2016. Sino-Italian police collaboration is launched Monday in Rome, Italy. In the following two weeks, four Chinese police officers will paticipate in the patrol in Chinatown areas of Rome and Milan. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

ROME, May 2, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police Pang Bo (1st R) and Li Xiang (3rd R) , together with two Italian police, patrol outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, May 2, 2016. Sino-Italian police collaboration is launched Monday in Rome, Italy. In the following two weeks, four Chinese police officers will paticipate in the patrol in Chinatown areas of Rome and Milan. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)