A rising tide of petty crimes against Chinese tourists has convinced France to allow Chinese policemen to patrol the streets of Paris.

Chinese police officers will patrol some of Paris' main tourism spots along with French police officers beginning June. The number of Chinese policemen invited to Paris has not been revealed as the details of the arrangement are still being finalized, according to a French Interior Ministry official. 

Like Us on Facebook

"It's more for the symbol than the policing," the official said.

The Chinese police are expected to help Chinese tourists negotiate through the language barrier, and help make them understand city regulations and proper behaviour in the foreign metropolis.

For China, the deployment of its policemen will serve to boost the sense of security among the hordes of Chinese tourists now descending on Paris. More than 1.4 million Chinese tourists visit France every year with most of them either visiting or shopping in Paris.

Each Chinese visitor spends an average of 12,800 yuan (1,500 Euros) per visit in Paris. Chinese tourists are the second largest in France after Americans, and are soon expected to be the largest.

The massive influx of Chinese tourists enamored with French fashion and culture has also led to a spike in crimes against the Chinese. In one particularly brazen incident last year, 23 Chinese were robbed in a restaurant shortly after arriving in Paris.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has made enhancing economic ties with China one of his priorities. Later this week, Fabius will take his eighth trip to China since assuming his post in 2012.

"Our policemen will ensure safety, but if there can be a psychological measure to help reinforce things then why not? They love France, but France must welcome them well. (They) have a lot of cash on them ... so there has to be safety and we still have things to do to ensure that," Fabius said.

Chinese tourists are vital to re-igniting France's economic growth. This growth was flat last year but is expected to improve this year and the next.

The government of President Francois Hollande also sees boosting tourism and trade as an effective way of slashing unemployment that remains above 10 percent.

Fabius revealed in a television interview this week that they are looking to tourism to generate more jobs.

The number of Chinese tourists is expected to jump this year because of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Tagstourism