China's Opening-Up: Yiwu's experience of getting policy-making more efficient

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One of China's most foreigner-friendly cities continues to fulfill that reputation. Yiwu in Zhejiang province, just south of Shanghai, is where you can find an eclectic mix of cultures and ethnicities. But the more diverse the city grows, the louder the call for more needs and services. CGTN's Wu Lei shows us what some in Yiwu propose looking ahead.

For 10 years, Ozcan Sezer's restaurant has brought the taste of his native Turkey to Yiwu. He says the city has become a second hometown, especially with both of his daughters having been born here. Now Yiwu has over 13 thousand permanent foreign residents, but, according to Sezer, only 1 public international school.

OZCAN SEZER TURKISH BUSINESSMAN "We don't have too many choices. You know the family is very important, for the family the children are very important. If they don't have these kinds of choices, they go back to their countries."

Each year over 500 thousand global traders come to do business in Yiwu. They face a lot of barriers, like language, cultural differences, and education resources.

WU LEI YIWU, ZHEJIANG "Today more exotic restaurants have sprung up in Yiwu. Many foreigners hope to settle down, but integrating into different cultures is never easy. To address public concerns, many foreigners are invited to participate in annual local government meetings and voice their suggestions."

Since 2003, Yiwu officials have invited around 10 foreigners to attend the meetings each year. Sezer and others say this was their first time having a face to face talk with senior city officials. They hope to address their concerns over schooling, and more.

OZCAN SEZER TURKISH BUSINESSMAN "Theater, some of the art facilities, some gym facilities. Because this is very important, it will make the children happier, making Yiwu more livable."

DJIBRIL DIALLO GUINEAN BUSINESSMAN "I propose an international museum, Yiwu international Museum, where cultures from different countries will be exposed to Chinese people, while Chinese cultures will be exposed to foreigners, with that the communication will be easier, there will be more understanding."

Australian businessman Simon Doyle says this is his second time attending the meeting. Last time his proposal was addressed very quickly. And each year both foreigners and Chinese from outside Yiwu voice their concerns.

SIMON DOYLE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSMAN "The lifestyle of local people is the most important thing, but lifestyles of foreigners and people from outside of Yiwu who live here is also very important, I think getting all these ideas they can help improve, yeah I think it is really a good idea."

Yiwu was one of the first cities in China to take such measures to collect suggestions and improve services, and they say they'll continue to do so.

DUO JIA, DEPUTY MAYOR YIWU CITY, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE "Their advice and suggestions will be carefully studied and assigned to related departments. We will supervise them to address concerns as soon as possible."

Yiwu officials believe mutual communication plays a key role in facilitating understanding, and more opening up measures will be needed to better the future of this international commercial city.

WL, CGTN, Yiwu, ZJ province.