Chinese police officers patrol during a joint effort with Italian police in Rome May 2, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Gang, head of the European Division of the Ministry of Public Security's International Bureau, said that under a memorandum signed by the two countries, China will send officers to Italy during the peak tourist season every year, and Italy can also send police officers to patrol in China if necessary.

This new mode of law enforcement cooperation is based on strengthened mutual trust and demonstrates closer collaboration of police departments of the two countries after years' of efforts, said Zhao Yu, deputy dean of the International Law Enforcement Institute at the People's Public Security University of China.

"This exemplary move is likely to have a positive effect on cooperation between China and other European countries," Zhao said.

He added that the patrols have symbolic significance as China increasingly works jointly with foreign countries on law enforcement.

Zheng Pengyuan, a Chinese national who has promoted education among Chinese-Italians in Milan since 2008, said Chinese police patrols are a timely action to ensure the safety of Chinese-Italians and Chinese students and tourists.

"The three groups of people are targets of wrongdoers in Italy who believe that we have the habit of carrying cash and buying luxury goods," said Zheng.