Shenzhen, a young bustling and dynamic city, has become a magnet for many expatriates who have decided to make the city their home because of its vitality and openness.

The statistics provided by the exit-entry administration department of the city's public security bureau show that more than 13,000 expatriates from about 110 countries and regions are living with residency permits in the 25-year-old city.

Besides, a total of 113 Fortune 500 companies have set up branches or representative offices in the city.

In terms of location, most of the foreigners have chosen to live in Shekou and Overseas Chinese Town in Nanshan District, Donghai Garden, Honey Lake and the city center in Futian District, and Sino-Link Garden in Luohu District.

The city government has attached great importance to introducing foreign investors since the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was established in 1980.

When the First China Hi-Tech Fair was held in the city in 1999, the city's foreign affairs office organized a speech and song contest for 300 expatriates to provide them with an opportunity to tell their experiences in Shenzhen.

In 2000, a 20-part series of TV documentaries recording the lives of foreign experts was made to enable city residents to learn more about this special group of people in the city.

As the city government put forward the goal of building Shenzhen as an international city in 2003, serving the needs of foreign experts, investors and students living here was included on the work agenda of the municipal government.

In January 2004, the government organized a Chinese Lunar New year homestay program, which attracted 102 local residents from 45 families and 273 expatriates involving 123 families, from 18 countries.

The program not only helped expatriates experience a meaningful Spring Festival together with local residents, but also gave them a chance to know about Chinese people and their culture.

As an expansion of the homestay program, the government staged a grand party at the China Folk Culture Villages theme park Feb. 22 this year, offering more than 300 expatriates to celebrate the Lantern Festival together with local residents.

"So far, the Shenzhen government has done a lot for foreigners living here, although different interest groups may have different demands regarding what the government still need to do in future," said Maynard Yutzy, director of the QSI International School in Shekou.

Some expatriates love the city so much that they are planning to give back to it so as to make Shenzhen become a better place.

Canadian John Cournane, 33, a consultant at a logistics company in the city, made a name for himself by becoming a candidate for the Shenzhen Top 10 Outstanding Youths at the end of July this year.

Briton Harry Walker is no stranger to some local citizens, as he became the only foreign winner of the Shenzhen Residents' Environmental Protection Award earlier this year.

While revealing his desire to become a permanent resident of Shenzhen, this veteran electricity engineer praised the tremendous potential of an emerging city like Shenzhen.

As many expatriates come to work in Shenzhen, their family members follow them to the city.

American Judene Irwine, a member of Shekou Women's International Club, a volunteer organization, is one of them. The members take care of orphans by paying regular visits to the city's welfare center.

(Shenzhen Daily September 16, 2005)