Why is Shanghai regarded an “ideal city” by foreign talents? How can it be better? A small detail resonates.

“I’ve lived in Shanghai for 16 years and I love Shanghai. However, I findthat there are not enough digital service products for foreigners. For example,when I want to find out the latest exhibitions in Shanghai, there is not an Appavailable.” At the event titled “Pudong in the Eyes of Foreign Experts” guidedby the Shanghai Talents Office, and hosted by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and Pudong New Area, Rui Wufeng, a distinguished researcher at Tongji University, mentioned a detail inadvertently that resonated with many foreign experts.

Talent underpins regional development. Over three decades, Pudong has attracted talents from across the world with its open and convenient talent policies, high-level innovation and entrepreneurship services, and an international quality supporting environment. The atmosphere created by urban culture plays a crucial role in retaining talents. In response to the suggestions and demands of foreign experts, the Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs promised to sort them out, so that more foreign talents will enjoy the convenience brought by the digital transformation of the city.

Unlimited opportunities are the biggest sttraction of Shanghai, the most inclusive city

“Among the cities I have lived in, Shanghai is the most inclusive one. Culturesare well integrated here, sending message of friendship to the world.” To Wang Ye, director of the Project Department of SEC-KSB, inclusiveness is the biggest appeal of Shanghai. Wang Ye’s employer is a Sino-German joint venture thatprovides high-end equipment for nuclear power plants. Shanghai offers Wang Ye astage to give full play to his[O1]  talent. “I am very optimistic about the future.”

Irene Tor Carroggio, an expert in language engineering with Shanghai Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., was the youngest foreign expert present. She spoke onbehalf of the young people. “A place full of opportunities always attracts young people.” After a decade of study in China, she undertook teaching for ayear in Spain, where students are curious about the east. “I have benefited from the scholarship program of China. If Shanghai offers more international cooperation and exchange programs to enhance exchanges between Chinese and foreign students, I believe that more people will learn about China and come to Shanghai.”

Noyan Rona, chief representative of the Shanghai office of the Garanti Bank,has lived in Shanghai for 25 years and knows the city well. He speaks highly of execution in Shanghai. Not long ago, he saw that a railing in Lujiazui was  affecting traffic and proposed to have it removed. A few days later, he received feedback that it was handled.

It needs more museums and galleries to retainpeople

“My family and I like living in Shanghai, and I’m committed to bringingmore scientists to Shanghai,” said Yuichiro Nakai, a scholar at the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute. The “ambition” of the institute is to gather the elite from acrossthe world, hone young scientists, and develop into a world-class research institution.

“Cultural facilities are essential to building the world’s top academicinstitutions,” Yuichiro Nakai said. Japan has made attempts at building similar institutions, but, without public facilities such as museums and art galleries around, researchers did not spend their spare time in the area, which means no exchanges and thus the absence of new ideas. Yuichiro Nakai noted that the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute attaches great importance to the integration of science and art, and that the new public facilities like the Museum of Art Pudong have also given researchers a few more “reasons to like Pudong”.

“There are many parks in Pudong, which are of great utility,” said Ma Ge, a distinguished professor at Shanghai University. People in other countries liketo run and ride bicycles in the parks. He hopes that Pudong will organize moreactivities to help foreigners expand their social circles, and also make greenparks more interactive and attractive.

Offer more foreigners access to the convenientonline services

No access for foreigners to register for an APP, check on the latest exhibitions,or make an appointment for the exhibitions. Such are the trivial troubles in a digital life for foreign experts who want to live in Shanghai for a long time and desireto better integrate into this “ideal” city.

As Ma Ge pointed out, foreign experts fail to register for most Apps due to language barrier. So they have fewer chances to participate in the events that need grabs or reservations.

Shanghai is currently undergoing urban digital transformation, which willcover more public facilities and services. Huang Hong, Deputy General Director of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and the Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs expresses support for building Pudong New Area into a leading area for international talent development, by introducing more innovative policies and measures inforeign talent management, and accelerating the construction of a more globally competitive talent system. Relevant departments also state that Shanghai will “open a window” and “leave a door” for more foreigners during digitaltransformation, so that foreign experts engaged in the development of Shanghai will fully enjoy convenient online services.

来源：文汇报 沈湫莎