In an interview with reporters in Guangzhou, Cao Junming, head of Guangdong Provincial Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs, disclosed that his establishment, together with the provincial personnel bureau, have submitted a report about the subject for approval to the provincial government.

Cao explained that Guangdong, where export-oriented economy has been highly developed, has felt a more urgent demand to import talents from other countries and regions following China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In the meantime, foreigners who have obtained permanent residence permits in China will enjoy national treatment and will find more convenience with their lives in the country.

In 2000, some 600,000 people from overseas worked in China, of whom, 160,000 were employed in Guangdong, which borders both Hong Kong and Macao.

Up to now, only 67 foreigners have been given the permits to stay permanently in China since 1989, said sources from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

According to the same sources, China will borrow the experience from international common practice and build a regular system of giving more qualified foreigners permits to stay in this country permanently or be allowed to enter China without a visa before 2003.

(China Daily November 27, 2001)