Chinese police officers are on patrol with their Italian counterparts in four Italian cities. It's part of bilateral cooperation between security forces. Their mission is to help Chinese tourists during Italy's peak tourism season. CGTN's Natalie Carney went on patrol with two of the Chinese police officers in Venice.

It's business as usual for police officers Chen Yin and Zhang Hailin or is it. They don't' usually patrol by boat back in their home cities of Lishui and Guangzhou. But here in Venice, a city surrounded by water, its all part of the job.

CHEN YIN CHINESE POLICE OFFICER "The water in Venice is busy and we are patrolling with our Italian colleagues together to safeguard the place."

Chen Yin and Zhang Hailin are two of ten Chinese police officers also on patrol in the Italian cities of Rome, Milan and Prato, a major textile-producing hub with a large Chinese population.

CHEN YIN CHINESE POLICE OFFICER "The cooperation between Italian police force and Chinese police force has been deepening, so our two countries have reached an agreement of joint patrol and bilateral sides realized that we should include Venice into the cities where these joining patrols hold, because Venice is one of the most famous tourist destinations here and there are a lot of Chinese tourists here."

Along with their counterparts in the Carabinieri, Italy's military police force, they work to ensure the protection of residents and Chinese tourists alike.

Natalie "Where is your help most needed here in Venice?"

CHEN YIN CHINESE POLICE OFFICER "Unfortunately, some petty thefts have happened to our Chinese tourists. And you know, to be honest, Italian is not a common language in China. SO the Chinese couldn't use Italian to communicate with the local police force. And we are here, especially my colleague Zhang Hailin who can speak Italian very well, he helped them to report those petty thefts to the local police force."

The police officers have been able to help Chinese tourists who have had their passports stolen fill out all the required Italian documents for them to get new ones to return to China. Their duties include both boat and foot patrols.

CHEN YIN CHINESE POLICE OFFICER "Especially Chinese tourists they feel happy when they see us and the local people are welcome to our presence. We got very good response from them."

But at times, the two appear to be treated more like rock stars than police officers.

LT. COLONEL EMANUELE SPILLER CARABINIERI FORCE "The Italian population is certainly curious and they curiously approach looking at them, but as for Chinese tourists there is often the amazement in seeing their policemen and then they approach them with great curiosity. They logically ask for photos and ask why they are in Venice."

NATALIE CARNEY VENICE "Every year about 3 million tourists come here to the beautiful city of Venice. Now while the Chinese and Italian police have been cooperating for three years, it's the first year they are here in the city of Venice."

In 2016 and 2017, Chinese officers took to the streets of Milan and Rome in similar joint patrols, liaising between the Italian police and Chinese visitors.

Natalie: "Italian food."

Chen Yin: "Delicious!"

Natalie: "What's your favorite dish?" 

Chen Yin: "Seafood and pizza."

Natalie: "Oww Pizza – good answer."

Just like the great Venetian explorer Marco Polo who found his way to China, Chen Yin, Zhang Hailin and several other Chinese police officers are marking their mark in Italy until June the 17th. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Venice.