“If you want to conduct scientific research without restraints and to be provided with an advanced infrastructure and environment, Qingdao is a preferred choice.” The statement made by Valentin Valtchev, a research fellow from France in the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, echoes the thoughts of many foreign professionals in Qingdao. As indicated by the statistics from the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, Qingdao is home to about 45% of foreigners holding valid work permits in Shandong Province, beating all other cities in the province. Over the recent five years, six foreign professionals in Qingdao won the Chinese Government Friendship Award and 18 received the Shandong Provincial Qilu Friendship Award.

As stated by Valetin Valtchev, Qingdao not only boasts a solid environment for working and pursuing entrepreneurship, but provides foreigners working and living in Qingdao with enormous convenience in many ways through the painstaking creation of a livable environment analogous to foreign countries. In regard to governmental services, Qingdao has taken steps to integrate work permits for foreigners with social security cards. As a result, a single card can be applicable to a range of purposes from social security registration, claiming benefits, transportation to cultural tourism. Furthermore, Qingdao has extended services to such details of life as medical services, children’s education and housing. These concrete actions are a testament to the fact that Qingdao is not only a sought-after destination where innovation and entrepreneurship can be pursued, but a favorable city where people can live a prosperous and contented life.

Qingdao has so far ranked among the “Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners” for 14 consecutive times. The ranking list selected by foreign professionals shows in the most vivid way that talented people from across the world and Qingdao are drawn to each other.  (Geng Tingting)