A team of border police from the Heilongjiang provincial public security department made intensive preparations to ensure safe and smooth entry and exit for exhibitors and visitors to the first China-Russia Expo that began on June 30.

The team established a liaison group for the expo that communicates regularly with the organizing committee for latest information on attendees.

The 18 frontier crossings in the province opened special passages for the expo. Staff skilled in English were selected for passport control.

To improve efficiency, the frontier stations provide a "pre-examination" service. Guests that declare beforehand have a faster pass through customs and immigration.

The stations also established service desks that provide consultancy for guests to the expo.

Security has been enhanced at major exit and entry ports like Heihe and Dongning. Police dogs were brought to check for drugs or explosives in luggage.

Special passages at the exit and entry hall of the Taiping International Airport in Harbin reduce waiting time for guests to the expo. The airport offers baby strollers, wheelchairs and trolleys, free hot water, newspapers and magazines for expo visitors.

Police dogs check a truck and luggage for potential drugs or explosives at the international border in Heihe. [Photos by Liu Song / for China Daily]