Zhejiang Police | From 'foreign faces' to 'friendly uncles,' how do you get 5,000 foreign businessmen to feel at home in a strange place?
Located at Keqiao in Shaoxing
It has the world’s largest textile distribution center
— China Textile City
Nearly a quarter of the world’s fabrics are traded here every year
There are over 5,000 foreign merchants residing there
How to make these “foreign faces”
Can you come in, stay in, and blend in?
Keqiao Public Security insisted
With reform speed, governance precision, and the strength of the rule of law
Fully Committed to Building a “Model Textile Capital” for Foreign-Related Management
July 4th
Zhejiang TV News Channel
The ‘Zhejiang Police Police’ program aired a special episode
“Weekend Special: Attracting Visitors to Jufang City, Police Spirit Safeguards the Journey”
Let’s follow the camera
Let’s experience Keqiao Public Security together
The speed and warmth of foreign-related services
Shaoxing Amamisum Technology Co., Ltd. is a company located in the Keqiao Foreign High-End Talent Innovation Cluster, specializing in drone aircraft fuselage design and cyclone flow research. However, during its early days, the company encountered unexpected “troubles.”
Umair, employee of Shaoxing Amamisum Technology Co., Ltd.:
We are unfamiliar with China’s drone registration regulations and application processes, and there are no compliant test flight sites nearby, which has led to obstacles in R&D and failure to fulfill orders. I was especially anxious at the time.
After understanding this “pain point,” the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Management Brigade proactively launched the “Foreign-related Police Coordinated Governance” mechanism, working with the patrol SWAT drone squad, government service center, and local police stations to carry out a “customized” service relay.
Shen Hengfeng, Police Officer of the Exit-Entry Management Brigade of Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
We have opened a “green channel” for foreign-related enterprises and simplified the filing materials related to drones for foreign technical personnel.
Zhou Yubo, Officer of the Drone Squad, Special Police Brigade of Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
They visited multiple times to teach them online registration, and contacted local drone companies to coordinate test flight sites.
It is worth mentioning that to establish a long-term mechanism, the Exit-Entry Management Team also led the establishment of a multi-departmental WeChat contact group.
Umaier, staff member of Shaoxing Amamisum Technology Co., Ltd.:
He helped us create a WeChat group so we could communicate within the group; According to relevant laws and regulations, they help us solve some problems.
The “troubles” were resolved smoothly, and development entered the fast lane. Today, Amami Sum Technology Co., Ltd. has received drone orders from multiple overseas universities. Relying on the Shaoxing Keqiao District Immigration Affairs Service Station, Keqiao Public Security has built a “high-speed waterway” for foreign enterprises to start businesses and innovate in Keqiao through regular visits to key enterprises, precise delivery of beneficial policies, and proactive responses to their demands and challenges.
Established in 2020, the Shaoxing Keqiao District Immigration Affairs Service Station is the city’s first immigration affairs service station. As the core hub of the foreign high-end talent innovation cluster, the station conveniently covers the core area and four surrounding townships, providing value-added services to more than 500 foreign talents. Relying on this service station, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security has deepened police-enterprise and police-government linkage, jointly implementing joint processing for foreign talents with science and technology, commerce, and other departments, significantly reducing the processing time from 22 working days to 7 working days.
On this basis, for eligible high-level talents, the public security exit-entry department has specially opened a “green channel” for permanent residency applications, simplifying approval processes and providing full-cycle “seamless service” from residence permit to permanent residence application, truly achieving “more data running, zero talent trips.” Dr. Anzer from Pakistan is a beneficiary of this policy. Recently, under the full tracking, coordination, and guidance of officers from the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Administration Brigade, Anzhe successfully submitted the application materials for the foreigner’s permanent residence ID card, i.e., the “China Green Card,” to higher authorities through the “green channel.” The thoughtful service deeply moved him and strengthened his confidence in rooting in Keqiao.
Dr. Anzhe, High-Level Talent of Keqiao District, Shaoxing City:
As a foreigner living in Keqiao, I especially want to thank the immigration authorities and the government for their strong support. I have invited several foreigners to work in Keqiao, currently two from Pakistan, one from South Africa, and one from India. These foreigners working in Keqiao focus on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, and water management.
Dr. Anzhe’s personal testimony is a vivid example of the optimization of the international service environment for Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security. Through “talent introduction,” Keqiao Public Security continues to optimize services for foreign talents, attracting more and more high-level foreign talents to gather in Keqiao, injecting new momentum into local economic development.
Convenient Travel: A Path for Entrepreneurship
While serving “high-tech” talents well, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security also focuses on the common needs of foreign investors, starting from “high-frequency small matters” and actively exploring new models for reforming foreign service management, ensuring convenience benefits every foreigner in Keqiao.
Last July, Keqiao Public Security took the lead in launching the province’s first one-stop process for foreigners’ “residence driver’s licenses.” Pandian Manicon, a businessman from India, became the first beneficiary.
Indian merchant Pandian Manicon:
This time, getting my residence permit and temporary driver’s license saved a lot of time and didn’t have to go to two places. Thumbs up to Keqiao—I found it especially convenient.
It is understood that in the past, foreigners had to first apply for a residence permit at the entry-exit administration office, then apply for a temporary driver’s license at the vehicle management office, a complicated and time-consuming process. To further simplify procedures, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security has integrated and optimized acceptance, circulation, and approval processes, successfully integrating administrative approval services originally between two police branches into a “one-stop acceptance, simultaneous certificate issuance” “one matter” through window services.
Shen Lu, Deputy Captain of the Exit-Entry Administration Brigade, Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
We have achieved internal transfer with the vehicle management office. When a foreigner applies for a work residence permit for the first time, they can submit both documents simultaneously. We enable internal transfer, and after 7 working days, you can simultaneously receive both the temporary driver’s license and residence permit.
This is also a microcosm of Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security continuously optimizing the “one matter” service scenario for foreigners coming to China. In recent years, Keqiao Public Security has optimized measures to protect enterprises and businesses at entry and exit, improved the foreign police service system, launched diversified “value-added” services, and is striving to build a new ecosystem of full-region, full-chain foreign-related services. In April this year, an Indian businessman from Shaoxing Shuohuang Textile Co., Ltd. urgently needed to visit the company to discuss textile business, but faced tight visa processing times and urgent entry requirements. After the company submitted its application to the Entry-Exit Administration Brigade, the police immediately initiated a rapid coordination and review process, completing the port visa transfer service in just two days.
Port visa transfer services not only solve the problem of “entry” but also seize fleeting business opportunities. For textile foreign trade enterprises, time is order, and efficiency is life.
Ji Baixu, General Manager of Shaoxing Shuohuang Textile Co., Ltd.:
Port visas (transfer services) have been a huge help to us. Previously, visas might take over a month, but now the processing time has basically been shortened to just one or two days, or two or three days.
Last year, the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Management Team handled 4,312 visas (endorsements) for foreign nationals, with nearly 100,000 temporary arrivals from abroad across the district, achieving a public satisfaction rate of 99.7%. Welcoming guests, but also safeguarding the distant voyage. The warmth of service is also reflected in accelerating the support for local enterprises to “go global.” Recently, Baoye Group’s overseas project for Curtain Wall in Indonesia has been progressing rapidly, requiring an additional 4 workers at the last minute. However, the passports of the four individuals had not yet been processed. The company immediately contacted the entry-exit management team, which opened a “green channel” through the “direct train” service, prioritizing every step from acceptance and approval to certificate issuance, ensuring employees received their passports as quickly as possible and exited the country as soon as possible.
Shen Lu, Deputy Captain of the Exit-Entry Administration Brigade, Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
Originally, household registration within the province took 7 working days, while outside the province it was 20 days. Now, through the direct admission channel for permits and licenses within the province, applicants can apply within as little as two working days. For those outside the province, we also help coordinate, even coordinating with their registered place of entry and exit to get them to reply quickly, and we will complete the approval as soon as possible.
Zhu Jifeng, Office Director of Zhejiang Baoye Curtain Wall Decoration Co., Ltd.:
The Express Service provides strong support for enterprises going global, especially in passport processing, which also facilitates our enterprises and provides significant assurance for the progress of subsequent projects.
The tolerance acceptance mechanism maximizes convenience for enterprises to secure overseas orders and expand markets. Data shows that since the beginning of this year, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security has provided expedited certificate processing services for 17 “going global” enterprises across the district, processing a total of 126 expedited licenses and accepting 26 cases for missing outbound cases.
Refined governance: Safe living with ‘methods’
Service must be warm, governance must be more effective. Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security relies on digital and collaborative methods to make management more precise and intelligent. The entity-based foreign-related co-governance center innovatively implements a “professional + mechanism + big data” model for foreign-related policing, effectively overcoming practical challenges such as language barriers, cultural differences, and legal application, significantly improving the success rate and efficiency of handling foreign-related dispute mediation, making foreign-related services more professional and compassionate.
The Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Management Brigade has deepened cooperation with the police academy, and with the School of Foreign Languages at Zhejiang University of Technology’s Zhijiang College, further strengthened the construction of foreign-related legal affairs, international student service management, and collaborative cultivation of foreign-related talents. Relying on this mechanism, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security regularly carries out diversified legal publicity activities. On the eve of summer vacation, the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Management Brigade, together with the Traffic Management Brigade, delivered a unique traffic safety lesson to over a hundred international students from the college.
International student Hani:
Today’s class was very helpful. China’s traffic safety is very well done, and after this class, I will pay even more attention to safety when traveling.
The refinement of governance is even more reflected in the resolution of various “small issues.” Not long ago, officers from the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Administration Brigade learned during routine visits to foreign-related enterprises that an employee at the Shaoxing office of Emirates Super Global Textile Co., Ltd. Dilip had not yet completed accommodation registration after renewing his visa. The officers then introduced the latest accommodation registration policy of the National Immigration Administration to the company’s relevant person in charge and Dilip, guiding them hands-on to download and use the “National Immigration Bureau” app, helping them master the “fingertip declaration” skills.
Dilip, Employee at the Shaoxing Office of UAE Super Global Textile Co., Ltd.:
This registration method is very convenient. I really like this way—you don’t have to go to the police station, you can register yourself on your phone.
According to the new policy of the National Immigration Administration, foreigners currently living or staying at residences other than hotels within China can register their accommodation online through the National Immigration Administration’s government service website, the “Immigration Bureau 12367” app, the “Immigration Bureau 12367” WeChat mini-program, or the Alipay mini-program. To raise awareness of the new policy, in recent days, the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Entry-Exit Brigade has implemented convenient measures for residents and enterprises through policy briefings and proactive services, assisting multiple foreign nationals in completing online applications on the spot, further enhancing the sense of gain, happiness, and security for foreigners in Keqiao.
Legal Safeguard: Development Has a ‘Foundation’
The rule of law is the optimal business environment. China Textile City has frequent commercial exchanges, and differences in language, culture, and legal understanding easily lead to foreign-related disputes. To solve mediation challenges, since 2021, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security has coordinated with courts, judicial, and commerce departments to form a distinctive mediation team called “Foreign Uncle,” innovatively implementing a “foreign transfer abroad” work mechanism, relying on foreign mediators to bridge communication distances, flexibly resolve cross-border commercial disputes, and safeguard the international business environment of Textile City through multi-party governance.
Not long ago, a textile import and export company in Keqiao, Shaoxing, and an overseas partner company had a contract dispute over the quality standards and delivery of a batch of export goods, leading to a stalemate. After visiting and understanding the situation, the Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security Exit-Entry Management Team proactively contacted the Foreign Legal Service Center of the Light Textile City. Entry-exit police and “foreign madam” Radman formed a mediation working group. After more than two hours of legal explanation and emotional counseling, both parties finally found a balance of interests and reached a settlement plan, turning conflict into harmony.
“Foreign uncle” Radman is Yemeni and has lived and worked in Keqiao for over 20 years. He and his wife run a trading company in Keqiao, where he serves as president of the Keqiao Yemen Chamber of Commerce. As one of the first mediators to join, Radman has developed a proven set of effective mediation experiences through years of practice.
“Foreign Uncle” Radman:
Experience is very important. No matter what issue you handle, you must have experience in trade, and you can also understand Arabic and Chinese. If the client has any issues, we can help them understand and find out, which is more convenient.
So far, there are nine ‘foreign madams’ like Radman. They understand the law, are fluent in languages, and hold great prestige, effectively promoting the resolution of foreign-related conflicts and helping foreign businesses better integrate into local life. According to statistics, the Shaoxing Keqiao “Foreign Uncle” team mediates more than 50 foreign-related disputes annually, with a mediation success rate exceeding 95%, providing a new win-win channel for overseas enterprises and foreign investors in Shaoxing Keqiao.
Shen Hengfeng, Police Officer of the Exit-Entry Management Brigade of Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
A large number of foreign-related disputes have been resolved at the earliest stage, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of both domestic and foreign merchants and optimizing Keqiao’s international business environment. Many foreign merchants say that with a foreign uncle, they feel more at ease doing business in Keqiao.
With the increase in international trade frictions, frequent intellectual property disputes, and rising risks of cross-border contract performance in recent years, which have brought many challenges for enterprises going global, in April last year, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security joined forces with the District Foreign Affairs Office, Judicial Bureau, Lawyers Association, and 17 other government departments and institutions to establish the “Yunshang Textile Capital” Foreign-related Legal Affairs Alliance, providing “one-stop” full-chain foreign-related legal services including legal consultation for overseas enterprises, foreign-related risk assessment, dispute mediation, and protection of overseas interests.
Since its establishment, it has provided foreign-related legal consultations 380 times, collaboratively reviewed and intercepted 38 high-risk contract clauses, issued 39 warnings of contract fraud risks, and resolved 21 foreign-related disputes. While providing enterprise-related services, Shaoxing Keqiao Public Security has always maintained a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for enterprise-related illegal and criminal activities, and has carried out special safeguard actions for enterprises. Establish a “domestic green channel for evidence preservation” for foreign-related cases, completing electronic evidence collection in the shortest possible time to help win foreign-related litigation; Piloting a joint case-handling mechanism of “entry-exit + economic investigation” effectively blocks suspected foreign trade contract-based contract fraud through early review and control.
Lv Zhaojie, Captain of the Exit-Entry Administration Team, Keqiao District Branch, Shaoxing Public Security Bureau:
Entry and exit have boundaries, service knows no boundaries. The Exit-Entry Management Brigade of Keqiao District Public Security Sub-bureau will continue to promote scientific, intelligent, and refined governance of foreign-related affairs, making every effort to create a more competitive international business environment for the “International Textile Capital,” and safeguarding the high-quality development of the open economy with higher standards, more practical measures, and better services.
From “bringing in” to “going out”
From “at most one visit” to “zero-distance service”
Keqiao Public Security has implemented a series of pragmatic measures
This makes the “International Textile Capital” not only popular in the market
And the warmth of the rule of law
