KATHMANDU - China has equipped Nepal Police with digital trunking system to enhance policing in the Himalayan republic.

At the inaugural ceremony of the system at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Division on Monday, Nepal Police communication chief Amrit Man Shrestha informed that the assistance from the Chinese government was worth more than 34 million RMB.

Besides providing the equipment, the entire installation process was also completed by Chinese professionals in about two years.

Chief of the International Cooperation of the Public Security Ministry of China Liao Jinrong and Chief of Nepal Police Kuber Singh Rana jointly inaugurated the service. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai and a host of Chinese delegates were also present on the occasion.

Liao said that China had sent a team to Nepal to work on the project two years ago and the latest technology had been used to build the devices.

"The best advanced technology has been used in the project. It will enhance the social security of Nepal," said Liao, adding that Nepal and China are joined by the same mountains and this cooperation will promote the ever-lasting friendship between the two countries.

Rana thanked the Chinese government for the cooperation, saying it had come at time when the country was preparing for the elections in November. He expressed his confidence that it would help in conducting the elections more safely and smoothly in addition to proving better security to the public every day.

At the moment, the digital trunking system has been installed in three major districts, including, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Sidhupalchowk. Of the three places, equipment worth almost 20 million RMB has been installed in Kathmandu alone.

Explaining further about the new service, Shrestha said that the digital trunking's function was similar to that of a mobile phone. Like the mobile phone that connects to the nearest tower, the digital trucking system also automatically assigns itself to the nearest available radio channels.

In addition, the availability of GPS service inbuilt in the devices will also enable the Nepal Police to locate on the map the exact location of the device holder. The devices have also been integrated in the 66 CCTV cameras installed in Katmandu, making the police more aware of what is happening around.

Shrestha also requested the Nepal Government to set aside at least five percent of the Nepal Police budget for maintenance of the devices.