Prison inmates in Beijing could soon be able to talk to their families via video, after Beijing Municipal Justice Bureau launched a video meeting system as a part of their overall social help and education system.

The video system is specifically aiming at helping the relatives of inmates who live far from the prison and who might be unable to visit, due to poverty or ill-health.

Lin Zhaobo, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Justice Bureau, said the video meeting system is now being tested in five prisons in Beijing, and further tests will also be carried out in the whole city in about three months' time.