A poll among 10.000 foreigners again selected Shanghai as the best city for foreigners. The latest “Amazing China – the Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners” ranking was released at the 17th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in Shenzhen. Launched in 2010 by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA), the poll asked foreigners to vote in four categories: expat-friendly policies, governmental administrative capacity, and working and living conditions. “Shanghai is becoming a very important hub for international talent,” Oscar Ramos, Managing Director of Shanghai-based Chinaccelerator, the first startup accelerator launched in China, told Shanghai Daily. “On one side local companies are internationalizing more and faster than ever and that requires global teams with cultural diversity. On the other hand, there’s great potential to build new products and services in Shanghai that will have global potential. Shanghai citizens and enterprises are early adopters of new technology, and the dynamic environment is a great ecosystem for innovation that is starting to be leveraged by both startups and multinationals,” he said.

Ramos said that when he decided to move to China 11 years ago, his go-to destinations were initially Shenzhen or Beijing. He thought they would be perfect for his startup until a friend recommended Shanghai. “Building a startup is a marathon and the supporting ecosystem is very important. Shanghai not only had a very supportive international community but in general was more welcoming for business with foreigners,” he added. Frenchman Sebastien Gaudin, who released healthcare app CareVoice in Shanghai in 2014, said that “Shanghai concentrates large successful multinational companies, Chinese private companies and fast-growing startups across sectors providing great opportunities for any foreign talent.”. “The quality of life is great too. The city has been modernized while preserving its heritage. Quality of air has been drastically improved and the many outside areas make it easy to enjoy sports and other activities. Shanghai is definitely the most international city on the Chinese mainland, making it uniquely positioned to attract foreign talent,” Gaudin said, as reported by the Shanghai Daily.