Guangzhou, Nov 12 (IANS) With some 103,000 police officers on the prowl, China has taken every possible step to ensure top security at the Asian Games that starts here Friday and ends Nov 27.

Guangdong Province, where Guangzhou is located, has signed security cooperation agreements with six neighbouring provinces and autonomous regions to beef up security, Xinhua reported.

The security team has apologised for any inconvenience the security measures have caused to local residents and asked for their understanding and cooperation.

"The security panel of the Guangzhou Asian Games has adopted effective and necessary measures to ensure a safe Games. We have done our best to provide a safe and favourable environment for athletes, coaches, officials and audiences," Li Dongsheng, who heads the ministry of public security, said in a statement.

"As the Guangzhou Asian Games will have the most ever athletes, officials and reporters in the history of the Asian Games, the security work is a great challenge," the statement said.

The security work for the opening ceremony has also been beefed up as it will be held on an island in the Pearl River.