China's latest pilot program to improve its business climate entails more measures to attract foreign investment and talent, including streamlining job certification, more efficient mechanisms to settle legal disputes and making it easier to enroll children in school.
The program, rolled out in a policy document issued by the State Council last month, outlined a host of measures to upgrade business-related administrative services in six cities — Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, as well as Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, and Guangdong province's Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
The six cities will offer diversified, efficient and convenient services to foreign businesses looking to settle disputes, including measures to develop centers that provide one-stop services.
Dispute resolution organizations and arbitration bodies will be encouraged to hire foreign mediators and arbitrators as part of the program.
The six cities will also explore ways to set standards for the certification of top-notch talent, especially those that are severely lacking nationwide. Local authorities will also pilot the establishment of a mechanism that allows expats to practice certain professions on the condition that they have already obtained the relevant qualifications or certificates overseas or from universally recognized international organizations.
The government will consider establishing an evaluation system for talent that is in line with international rules, the policy document said.
It added that the level of service from the international versions of government web portals will be upgraded to help expats better understand investment opportunities, employment and other policies.
Under the program, the government will widen market access for operators of schools for foreign children and allow domestic businesses and Chinese citizens to open schools for them.
Authorities will also increase administrative approval for procedures concerning expats as part of one-stop online services, the document said.
