Talent is the top priority for industrial development. In the Hangzhou area of the Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, the trend of overseas talent gathering is becoming increasingly evident. On January 6th, the General Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice, deciding to carry out a pilot work on the recognition standards for foreign “high-precision and cutting-edge” talents in Hangzhou; Not long ago, the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the results of the 2021 “Charming China – The Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Experts” theme activity, with Hangzhou ranking third. The continuous good news will bring sustained benefits to the gathering of foreign “high-precision and cutting-edge” talents in the Hangzhou area of the Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Hangzhou launches a two-year program
Pilot Work on the Recognition Standards for Foreign Talents with High Precision and Shortage

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly issued a notice, deciding to launch a pilot program for the identification standards of foreign “high-precision and cutting-edge” talents in Hangzhou.

According to the Notice of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs on the Full Implementation of the Work Permit System for Foreigners in China (WZF [2017] No. 40), on the basis of the Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China (Trial), Hangzhou is supported to further expand the scope of recognition of foreign high-end talents (Category A) and foreign professional talents (Category B) in accordance with the Recognition Standards for Foreign “Elite” Talents in Hangzhou (Trial) and the Directory of Foreign “Urgently Needed” Talents in Hangzhou (Trial).
Hangzhou will include foreign “high-precision and cutting-edge” talents in the local talent service guarantee system, provide relevant convenience measures, and report the pilot results and work situation to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security every six months. The pilot work for the recognition standards of foreign “high-precision and cutting-edge” talents in Hangzhou will be implemented from January 1, 2023, for a trial period of 2 years.
The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will promptly summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot work, and replicate and promote effective reform measures on a larger scale.

Hangzhou was selected as the Charm China of 2021——The most attractive Chinese city in the eyes of foreign experts

Recently, the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology announced the results of the 2021 “Charming China – The Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Experts” theme activity. Hangzhou ranked third, after Beijing and Shanghai, and has been selected as one of the top ten cities for 12 consecutive years.

With strong support from the Strategic Planning Department and Foreign Expert Service Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology organized the 2021 “Charming China – The Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Experts” themed event. Recently, the survey results of themed activities were released: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chengdu were awarded the 2021 Charm China – the most attractive Chinese cities in the eyes of foreign experts; Xi’an, Jinan, Chongqing, Kunming, Tianjin, Wuxi, Yantai, Hefei, Changsha, and Xiamen have been awarded the 2021 Charm China – the most promising Chinese cities in the eyes of foreign experts.

The theme activity closely focuses on the theme of “urban openness and talent introduction”, conducting research on the feelings and evaluations of foreign experts in China on the working and living environment and innovation and entrepreneurship environment of their cities, and understanding the concerns and demands of foreign experts in China’s work and life. The theme activities were selected based on five criteria: urban population size, urban economic level, foreign investment activity, annual theme activity results, and urban center radiation. A total of 41 cities (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) were selected as survey and evaluation objects nationwide. 52 survey indicators were designed according to five dimensions: work convenience, living convenience, social environment, urban mutual evaluation, and urban extroversion, and a survey questionnaire was compiled. The activity conducted weighted statistical calculations on two types of questionnaires and five dimensions, resulting in attractiveness scores for 41 cities. Based on the scores, the most attractive and promising Chinese cities in the eyes of foreign experts were ranked.
In terms of optimizing the management of foreign investment and international talent services, Hangzhou implements “one thing” handling of work permits and residence permits for foreigners in China. At present, more than 2100 foreign talents have enjoyed convenient services.