More support for foreign talent in Pudong to boost innovation

A view of Shanghai's Pudong New Area. (Photo by Wang Gang/For China Daily)

Supportive measures aimed at providing more convenience to foreign talent working in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai will further facilitate business exchanges and boost innovation, said experts and officials.

The comments came after a set of 34 measures were released at the 2024 Pudong International Talent Hub Forum on Saturday.

A major step has been made with regard to the entry and exit of foreigners in China.

According to the measures, Pudong can directly issue confirmation letters for high-level foreign talent, which foreigners can use when applying for talent visas.

The talent visa allows an applicant to stay in China for a maximum 180 days upon entry and the visa is valid for 10 years. The foreign talent's family can also enter China with the same documents.

Qi Yuxia, director of Pudong's talent office, said Pudong is the first municipal district in China to obtain the right to issue such a confirmation letter. This will largely facilitate academic exchanges, scientific research cooperation or business visits.

"This progress will help Pudong in attracting more foreign talent to support the development of key industries. Hopefully, the entry of more foreign talent will bring in new businesses and further boost innovation," she said.

The pilot program of electronic visas, which was first experimented at the Lin-gang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in July, will be promoted all throughout Pudong, according to the new measures.

With this, visas will be processed entirely online, exempting the applicant from providing paper material, original passports, or the affixing of paper visas. The foreigner can use their passports and e-visas to pass through immigration to enter China.

Foreigners intending to set up new businesses or those entering with innovation ideas are welcome in Pudong. Foreign talent that has been pursued keenly in key industries will be directly granted work permits.

Pudong International Talent Station, which went operational in February 2023 to offer free accommodation and work space for foreign talent, will provide a maximum 14 days of free stay to qualified foreign talent. A maximum 12 months of free work space will also be provided at the station for nurturing quality innovative projects, according to the recently released policy.

The mechanism of direct recommendation for foreigners' permanent residency in China, which was adopted across Pudong in January 2023, should be further consolidated.

The mechanism, under which high-level foreign talent recommended by the Pudong government can directly apply for permanent residency, should make its processing procedures faster and easier, according to the new measures.

Samuel Chuffart, global design director for international design company Icona Group, obtained his permanent residency under the direct recommendation mechanism.

Chuffart has lived in Pudong for about 14 years. The permanent resident ID card will make his life easier, including dealing with various financial, education, medical, transportation and accommodation services, he said.

Data from the Pudong government showed that it has produced such recommendations to more than 50 foreign talent since the program was implemented in early 2023.

Pudong was home to 26,000 expatriates at the end of 2022, accounting for 21.1 percent of Shanghai's total expat population, according to the municipal public security bureau.

The area has made continued efforts to attract foreign talent. According to a comprehensive reform plan released in January, foreign talent are supported to serve as legal representatives of public institutions and State-owned enterprises in designated parts of the city.

Foreign scientists who have obtained permanent residency can take the lead in undertaking national science and technology projects or serve as legal representatives of new research and development institutions in Pudong, said the reform plan.

At the end of 2023, Pudong launched a program to invite international experts, talent and institutions to introduce more talent to choose Pudong as the first stop to tap into the Chinese market. About 180 such talented people have been introduced via this program so far.