The number of people from overseas working in Shanghai reached 54,608 at the end of 2006, compared with only 4,047 in 2000, municipal government statistics show.

The city had an increase of 20,189 foreign workers last year alone, according to the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

The workers come from 152 countries, with nearly 30 percent from Japan.

Most of the foreigners work in foreign-funded companies or business offices of foreign enterprises in Shanghai.

Official figures show the registered number of foreigners working on the Chinese mainland hit 150,000 at the end of 2005. They mainly come from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and Europe.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2007)