By Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily
Located on Haichuang Avenue in Yuhang district, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, the building bearing the bilingual sign “The Reception Hall of the Cangqian International Block” has become a hub for the district’s growing international community. A diverse range of visitors, with varied backgrounds and nationalities, regularly enter, embodying the area’s increasingly global character.
Cangqian subdistrict, home to the Reception Hall, boasts a well-developed economy and a vibrant expatriate population from 31 countries and regions, including Austria, Argentina and Russia. To better serve international residents and foreign innovators, the subdistrict established an international block within its bustling commercial area. The 2,000-square-meter Reception Hall has become a vital first point of contact for global talent, offering essential services and resources to help them settle and thrive in Hangzhou.
Linda, an Australian entrepreneur, recently chose Hangzhou as the base for her new business venture. Initially, she was uncertain about navigating the city’s administrative processes and was concerned about potential language barriers. However, after visiting the Reception Hall, she was greeted by staff members fluent in English. They provided clear guidance on her residence registration, reviewed her documents, and even scheduled an appointment for her the following morning. “I was expecting a complex and time-consuming process, but the staff’s professionalism and proactive support put my concerns to rest,” Linda said.
Upon returning to complete her registration, staff noticed that Linda had listed “entrepreneur” as her profession. They promptly offered her information on support policies available for international entrepreneurs in Hangzhou and Yuhang. They also introduced her to a “startup policy package” and connected her with relevant resources. This guidance proved invaluable as Linda navigated the challenges of launching her business.
According to Wu Zhan, an official with the Cangqian subdistrict, the Reception Hall offers a comprehensive array of services, including foreign-related administrative assistance, talent policy consultations, business services, roadshows, flexible workspaces, cultural events and access to reading materials. The aim is to respond precisely to the needs of international residents, providing tailored solutions that foster integration and support.
In recent years, Cangqian subdistrict has organized seven distinct categories of events to further meet the diverse needs of its international residents, thereby enhancing governance efficiency and promoting cultural exchanges. Through these initiatives, the district fosters a collaborative and harmonious environment.
At a coffee salon, Linda met Marco, an Italian programmer with a shared passion for technology. At another event, the “home-cooking challenge,” French baker Pete had the opportunity to prepare his first Hangzhou-style dish. These dynamic cultural activities have contributed to making the international block a welcoming space for innovation and cross-cultural exchanges. Since its inception, the Reception Hall has hosted more than 100 activities, nearly half of which have been related to foreign collaboration, facilitating multiple international partnerships.
For many global innovators, early challenges often include navigating unfamiliar policies, securing access to resources, and exploring new markets.” The Reception Hall serves as a catalyst for tech startups, aiming to build an international hub for innovation. It was here that Linda met her first business partner.
Linda’s startup, located just across the street from the Reception Hall, was recently involved in a seminar on “cross-border applications of AI in healthcare.” During the seminar, Linda shared her technological concepts and the challenges she encountered in the Chinese market. Before she could finish her presentation, Pierre, a French engineer with expertise in relevant algorithms, expressed interest in partnering with her. They quickly found common ground and, over the course of a conversation, laid the foundation for a promising collaboration.
As Linda’s company entered a period of rapid growth, she faced a new challenge: a major cross-border financing deal involving complex international tax planning and local compliance requirements. Once again, she turned to the Reception Hall. The staff promptly provided a customized “cross-border sci-tech enterprise policy package” that outlined tax incentives, foreign-exchange guidelines, and compliance procedures. In addition, the Reception Hall arranged for a government specialist to meet with Linda that same day, offering clear explanations of the key issues involved.
Today, Linda often recalls her early days in Hangzhou, recalling how the services offered by the Reception Hall helped ease her transition. With its distinctly international atmosphere, the Reception Hall of the Cangqian International Block continues to support international talents by making the vision of “a smooth landing and a fast start” a reality.
