China vows to protect foreigners

Beijing, April 21 (IANS) Police in China's Chongqing city, a major trade hub, have promised better protection to foreigners following the murder of a British national there.

"Neil Heywood's case is a very rare one, and very few foreigners have been victimized in crimes in Chongqing during the past two years," a security official said.

Bogu Kailai, the wife of Bo Xilai, former Communist Party chief of Chongqing, and Zhang Xiaojun, an assistant at Bo's home, are believed to be behind the murder.

Except for the Heywood case, there have not been any violent crimes against foreigners in Chongqing since 2010, the official said, requesting anonymity.

Last year, 360,000 foreigners visited Chongqing, and 58 of them have reported being victimized by criminals, Xinhua reported.

The municipal security bureau has said it will crackdown on criminal gangs in the city to ensure protection to people.