[China] Online expat services portal launched for Shanghai

On January 1, 2024, Shanghai Municipal People's Government launched the beta version of a new online portal for expat services, PRNewswire reports.

The new website - International Services Shanghai - will also have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and WeChat.

The portal - operated by China Daily - is a one-stop platform for foreigners providing information related to work, travel or study in Shanghai. 

It is a step towards removing obstacles for foreigners to come to China for business, study, and tourism; a challenge reportedly raised during the annual Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing on December 11-12.

The portal has reportedly been integrated with the city's e-governance platform, Government Online-Offline Shanghai, to offer quick online access to foreigners.

Online and offline activities - such as policy introduction sessions, business consultations, themed salons, cultural experiences, and learning and training events - will be organised more efficiently to serve and engage with the expat community. 

The website will be made available in eight other languages - Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic - at a later time.

Gong Zheng - the mayor of Shanghai - praised the city’s potential during the "Invest in China Year" summit in November saying, "Shanghai is a charming city full of hope and unlimited opportunities, and it is a land for entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and make a career. We will continue to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, provide accurate, convenient and innovative high-quality services, and work hand in hand with everybody to create an open and prosperous future." 

Source: PRNewswire

(Link and quote via original reporting)

On January 1, 2024, Shanghai Municipal People's Government launched the beta version of a new online portal for expat services, PRNewswire reports.

The new website - International Services Shanghai - will also have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and WeChat.

The portal - operated by China Daily - is a one-stop platform for foreigners providing information related to work, travel or study in Shanghai. 

It is a step towards removing obstacles for foreigners to come to China for business, study, and tourism; a challenge reportedly raised during the annual Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing on December 11-12.

The portal has reportedly been integrated with the city's e-governance platform, Government Online-Offline Shanghai, to offer quick online access to foreigners.

Online and offline activities - such as policy introduction sessions, business consultations, themed salons, cultural experiences, and learning and training events - will be organised more efficiently to serve and engage with the expat community. 

The website will be made available in eight other languages - Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic - at a later time.

Gong Zheng - the mayor of Shanghai - praised the city’s potential during the "Invest in China Year" summit in November saying, "Shanghai is a charming city full of hope and unlimited opportunities, and it is a land for entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and make a career. We will continue to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, provide accurate, convenient and innovative high-quality services, and work hand in hand with everybody to create an open and prosperous future." 

Source: PRNewswire

(Link and quote via original reporting)