City releases evaluation guideline for intl. block development

Witnessed by experts and representatives of Chinese and foreign residents, Shenzhen officially launched its evaluation guideline for the development of international blocks at a conference in Qianhai Kerry Center yesterday.

According to the organizer, the city’s foreign affairs office, the guideline is expected to help build a multidimensional and multilevel evaluation system for construction of international blocks, promote sustainable development of the city’s international blocks, and provide references for other cities’ internationalization drive.

Local and expat participants dance at the "Enjoy Charming Latin Music" activity in Shekou on June 18. Photos by courtesy of Shekou MSCE except otherwise stated

The guideline also aims to scientifically and systematically evaluate the experience and achievements of the city’s first batch of 20 international blocks it has accumulated over the last three years. Likewise, it aims to further improve international blocks’ development, management and service levels.

Shenzhen took the country’s lead to issue measures on promoting the construction of international blocks in a bid to improve the city’s internationalization level in June 2019.

In the same year, the list of the first batch of 20 international blocks in Shenzhen (2019-2022) was released, with the 20 blocks strewn across the city.

Participants at a conference that released the Standards and International Block Development by Shekou Sub-district Office in Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats on April 15, 2021. The standards were deemed as the first standards and guidelines for the construction of international blocks. 

The evaluation guideline has adopted the method of “basic evaluation + feature evaluation” with indicators manifesting Shenzhen’s characteristics.

Expat and local children at a cultural event in Shekou. 

Basic evaluation covers six aspects including block governance, international exchanges, resident quality, livable environment, industrial services and communication capabilities, as well as the highlights created in the process of building an international block.

Feature evaluation, with a focus on the blocks’ characteristic advantages, emphasizes three aspects of planning, development and achievements.

Visitors are seen at a booth of Shekou at the Shenzhen Next Expat Service Fair of the 19th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals on April 24, 2022. Shekou Sub-district, as one of the first 20 international communities in Shenzhen, presented the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures and friendly interactions between different foreign units in Shekou at the fair. 

“Shenzhen thrives because of reform and opening up. To build Shenzhen into a more internationalized city not only can increase foreigners’ interest in coming to China, but also improve Chinese people’s understanding of foreigners,” said Machneva Anna, a Russian graduate student at the South China University of Technology who has been living in China for nine years.

Expat and local residents attend an activity of pictures printed from engraved plates in Guanlan, Longhua District in this undated file photo.

According to Anna, there is a popular saying “I’m a foreigner, but not an outsider” in the expat community, but she personally prefers the saying “You’re a Shenzhener once you come here.”

Duiu Onofrei, a martial arts coach from Romania, lives in the Zhaoshang international block in Nanshan District. He lauded the government’s efforts in advancing the development of international blocks, which are welcomed by the expat community.

An expat volunteer serves at a COVID-testing site in Guanlan, Longhua District, in this undated photo.

“Shenzhen was the first Chinese city I visited, and I never left,” he said, adding that he instantly fell in love with the city for its infrastructure, development, friendly people and food.

The development of international blocks in Shenzhen is another important innovation the city has initiated after it proposed the construction of its eight international communities in 2014.

Shenzhen aims to form a citywide international block network by the end of 2025.