Suzhou opens first library for foreign experts

Suzhou New District (SND) in East China's Jiangsu province opened a library for foreign experts, the first of its kind in the city, at the International Technology Talent Park on Aug 11, local media reported.

The library, approved by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, will exhibit China's scientific and technological achievements, promote Chinese culture, and boost exchanges between China and the world.

Covering 300 square meters, the library houses over 3,000 books in 10 languages such as Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and Russia, and covers such topics as politics, economics, culture and diplomacy.

Some foreign experts were given books at the ceremony.

SND in recent years has worked out a series of measures to welcome the growing number of foreigners working and living in the district. Here are some measures the district has taken.

To meet the educational needs of children of high-level international talents, SND has opened the Suzhou EtonHouse International School and the Japanese School of Suzhou.

SND's English website and the iSuzhou online service platform were designed to bring expats in Suzhou convenient and quality governmental public services.

For high-end foreign experts who are planning long-term residence and have obtained their work permits, SND will help them apply for a valid foreigner residence permit for more than three years. Senior foreign managers are given priority when applying for a permanent residence permit. They can also enjoy streamlined procedures in applying for work permits.

Overseas Chinese can apply to extend their visas or residence permits to up to five years. The work permits of foreigners working in SND can also be extended to up to five years.

SND has offered generous help to foreign students and overseas returnees who are looking for internships or planning to start up their own businesses in the district.

Three institutions and companies in SND were ranked by the Jiangsu provincial government as Jiangsu Foreign Experts Workshops in March. They are the Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou Collaborative Innovation Medical Robot Institute, and Nuoyi Maier (Suzhou) Medical Technology Co.

SND has attracted over 2,800 overseas returnees as well as one expert ranked by national major programs, seven experts ranked by Jiangsu province, six Jiangsu Foreign Experts Workshops, and 27 Suzhou Foreign Experts Workshops. Some 260 experts have been supported by the local Seagulls Plan, gaining financial aid of over 14 million yuan ($2 million).