Grassroots-level civil police are charged with safeguarding China’s political security and social stability, said State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi during a tour to East China’s Anhui province from Jan 11 to 12.

A safe, stable political and social environment, according to Zhao, paves the way for achieving the country’s first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

While extending his greetings to police officers working at the ground level, Zhao called for further efforts in accomplishing that mission, at a symposium attended by the heads of some provincial public security organs.

To have powerful public security forces, he said, system improvement and capacity building should be a priority. Reforms and big data applications should be accelerated, among others, within a law-based framework, he said.

He added that intense efforts should be made to ensure security for the Chinese people for happy and peaceful Spring Festival holidays.