Zhang Jianguo speaks at the forum.[photo/safea.gov.cn]

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs held a forum on new work permits for foreigners in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on February 16 and 17.

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs holds a forum on new work permits for foreigners in Guangzhou on Feb 16 and 17.[photo/safea.gov.cn]

More than 50 people, including Zhang Jianguo, administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Yinchengji, deputy administrator of SAFEA, and officials from different ministries and 10 provinces attended the forum, which aimed to share experiences of implementing the new work permits for foreigners and to discuss new problems and situations in pilot provinces.

The new work permit system will be fully implemented across the country on April 1. The 10 pilot provinces have been working hard on the implementation of the measures, and have achieved remarkable results in working mechanisms, institution construction, system construction and service trainings.

Zhang Jianguo stated three requirements for the full implementation of the new work permit system. First, all departments should cooperate well, and establish an unified, effective, and authoritative management and service system for foreigners; second, they should improve policies and institutional organization; third, they should implement “Internet plus government services” to improve the program outcomes.

Delegates from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, and several pilot cities introduced their experience and difficulties of the implementation of the new work permit system for foreigners, and offered their suggestions on how to improve services. The delegates had extensive discussions on possible solutions to problems in their work.