Shanghai’s airports, railway stations impose anti-terror security checks ahead of Hangzhou G20 summit

Shanghai’s two airports and all its railway stations have put in place anti-terror security checks as Chinese authorities step up safety measures ahead of next month’s G20 summit.

From Monday, the Pudong and Hongqiao airports will see higher-level security checks at their entrances and exits, the Shanghai Airport Authority said on its website on Thursday.

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Such checks were imposed at major traffic hubs linked to big events, the notice said, citing China’s anti-terror law that came into effect in January.

Suspicious people and prohibited items would immediately be reported to police, the authority said.

It advised departing passengers to plan their trips ahead of time to avoid missing their flights as a result of the new checks.

The stepped-up security measures were being put in place in preparation for the two-day G20 summit that starts in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on September 4, Shanghai-based news outlet Thepaper.cn reported, citing anonymous sources.

Shanghai is located beside Zhejiang province.

Since the start of the month, the city’s railway stations had also implemented two-level security checks for passengers departing for Hangzhou, the report said.

Before this, train passengers only had to undergo one check upon entering the railway stations.

The checks were specifically aimed at weeding out hazardous liquids and explosives, according to the report.

Meanwhile, several foreign tourist groups led by Hong Kong tour agencies have been refused entry into Guangdong province since last week due to a “system upgrade” on the mainland visa application network, according to the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

The council and the Thai embassy in Beijing said they have received a number of complaints against sudden suspension of the six-day convenient visa for foreign group visitors.

Media reports say the policy could have been suspended for security reasons – to prevent terrorists disguised as tourists from entering China, especially at a time when the world’s top leaders are gathering in Hangzhou for next month’s G20 summit.

China was in April asking countries taking part in this year’s G20 summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou to provide lists of possible terror groups and terrorists who might target the meeting.

The summit will gather major world leaders together like China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama.