At a meeting of frontier guards on Feb. 10, he, who is also a state councilor, said the guards should be deeply aware of a new situation and challenge that the border guard is faced with, and display a high degree of responsibility, while consolidating mass foundations.

Commanding officers of all border garrisons should work out their plans as part of the Party and the state affairs, intensify training and boost the capabilities to cope with emergency, he said.

He also underscored the need for border garrisons to fully discharge their mission, keep themselves on high alert against multinational crimes and give full play to positive and creative manner of work.

Last year Chinese frontier guards dealt with 2,153 cases of drug smuggling, arrested 2,883 criminal suspects and seized 3,828.75 kilograms of drugs. They also confiscated 2,023 weapons of various kinds and more than 53,000 bullets.