Yiwu, a city in East China's Zhejiang province, has been attracting and retaining foreign businessmen with its improved policies and services, local media reported on Aug 5.

Tailored assistance to boost confidence

"My business this year is even better than last year. I'll be able to apply for a 5-year residence permit in just two months. I feel very honored," said a Pakistani businessman who has been in Yiwu for 17 years.

The municipal exit & entrance bureau is offering tailored assistance to each company, and well-reputed foreign enterprises who contribute to the economy will enjoy preferential entry and exit treatment.

The bureau has explained its policies to more than 100 foreign trade enterprises by going door-to-door and has granted 5-year residence visas to 39 foreign businessmen since the beginning of this year.

The police are helping foreign employees understand Chinese laws and daily communication policies, making them feel more welcome in the city.

Green channel for resuming operations

A "green channel" has opened for foreigners entering Yiwu after June 1, after the bureau visited more than 100 foreign-related units and over 150 foreign-invested enterprises to collect advice and suggestions.

In the first half of this year, more than 3,200 foreigners returned to work in Yiwu and 2,500 expats who stayed in Yiwu had their visas extended.

The total value of Yiwu's foreign trade was 133.17 billion yuan ($19.16 billion) in the first half of the year, an increase of 7.4 percent over the same period last year. This is 1.7 percentage points higher than the provincial average.

Convenient services enhance sense of belonging

The bureau has built convenience service stations and issued foreign merchant cards to expats in Yiwu, solving many difficulties they previously faced.

Yiwu's foreign merchant card combines the functions of a foreigner's passport with a local's ID card.

Holders of the card can use it to identify themselves when handling government affairs, take public transportation, rent shared bicycles, and visit the public library.

The police will also provide visa extension services for foreign merchants unable to return home due to the epidemic, while the foreign merchant card is more convenient to use than a passport. All these measures are making life for expats more convenient and offering them a stronger sense of belonging.