2023 Orientation Workshop for Foreign Experts in Shanghai Held

To help foreign experts in Shanghai better understand Shanghai, better work and live here, from November 30 to December 1, the 2023 Orientation Workshop for Foreign Experts sponsored by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) , i.e., STCSM (SHAFEA), and hosted by the Shanghai Institute of Science & Technology Management, Shanghai Service Center for Foreigners Working in China was held. Nearly thirty foreign experts and their families from 17 countries attended the workshop in this early winter.

On the morning of November 30, the opening ceremony of the workshop was held at Xuhui Campus, Shanghai Institute of Science & Technology Management. Huang Hong, Deputy Director of the STCSM and Deputy Director-General of the SHAFEA attended the event and gave a speech. Zeng Fang, Head of the Shanghai Institute of Science & Technology Management and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Party Committee, delivered a welcome speech.

Huang Hong extended her sincere greetings to the foreign experts and their families attending the workshop. She pointed out that in recent years, Shanghai has been actively introducing foreign talents to boost innovation and start businesses in the city with a global vision, international standards, and an open mindset. A series of policy measures have been launched to attract and gather foreign talent. Efforts have been made to actively build a platform for exchange, interaction, and integrated innovation between foreign talents in Shanghai and government departments to continuously strengthen the construction of the foreign talent service system, optimize the breadth and accuracy of policy information release, and strive to create a welcoming atmosphere. In the future, Shanghai will continue to create a business and talent development environment with stronger international competitiveness and attractiveness, allowing foreign experts comfortable work and life in Shanghai.

The workshop was divided into four parts: lecture, city tour, Chinese learning seminar, and cultural salon. It not only helped foreign experts further understand Shanghai’s service policies but also brought them a rich and interesting learning experience, allowing them to feel the charm of Chinese culture.

Feng Donghui, Director of the Foreign Expert Services Department of the STCSM introduced the services for foreign experts in Shanghai, policies related to the foreigner’s permit in China, and facilitation measures. Foreign experts spoke freely, offering opinions and suggestions on facilitation measures for the foreigner’s permit in China and issues related to living in Shanghai. Associate Professor Wu Zhan from Shanghai Customs College was also invited to give a lecture on topics of general concern to foreigners, such as immigration and custom-related issues.

After the lecture, foreign experts visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, the Shanghai Science Hall, and other places to experience the history of Shanghai’s urban development, the atmosphere of scientific and technological innovation, and the Shanghai-style culture.

This workshop also invited foreign experts to participate in basic introductory Chinese training in a positive and active classroom atmosphere. Through self-introduction, group discussions, and Q&A interactions, foreign experts can use Chinese for simple dialogues in a short time, which helped enhance their interest and confidence in learning and speaking Chinese.

The “Foreign Talents in Shanghai” Kun Qu Opera & The Bund salon, as the final part of the workshop, was held in the Bank of China Building on the Bund. Foreign experts visited the exhibition hall of the building and attended a lecture on foreign-related financial services. During the salon, foreign experts dressed in opera costumes to learn Kun Qu Opera, and practiced calligraphy and painting on folding fans, fully experiencing the classical charm of Chinese traditional culture. In a harmonious and lively atmosphere, foreign experts perfectly concluded the Orientation Workshop for Foreign Experts.

Foreign experts have expressed their gratitude to the organizer for the well-planned workshop, which allowed them to further immerse themselves in Shanghai’s culture, gain a deep understanding of policies and facilitation measures closely related to their work and life in Shanghai, and help them better settle in the city and make it a comfortable place to live and work. After the workshop, some experts offered to share the knowledge they had learned with their foreign colleagues and friends; some experts enthusiastically said that they would incorporate Kun Qu Opera into the upcoming Christmas holiday.