China is planning to upgrade its version of green cards to make them machine-readable and give holders easier access to a range of social services, such as purchasing properties and doing business in banks.

According to a reform plan issued by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) , the "foreigner's permanent residence card" will be renamed "foreigner's permanent residence identity card," in which a chip with identity information will be embedded. The upgrade will be completed before the end of June.

The upgrade will strengthen the card’s functions as ID and be made in accordance with technological standards for the second-generation ID card held by Chinese citizens.

It will be easier for card holders to travel by train and air in China. In addition, security features will be improved to avoid counterfeiting. 

The reform will boost "the sense of gain" among permanent residents in China, an MPS official told Xinhua News Agency on Monday. 

It is good news for foreigners living and working in China. Last year, more than 900,000 foreigners were employed on the Chinese mainland, according to data from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

By providing card holders with barrier-free access to public services, China is showing the world its openness and inclusiveness, as it welcomes talent from around the globe, said Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization.

Chinese green card holder Mark Levine, an American who received China's Friendship Award in 2014, told CCTV that Beijing is as full of opportunities as Los Angeles, which attracts "dream chasers" from the whole world.

China eased its residence policy in 2015, a move followed by an increase of 163 percent in the number of foreigners receiving green cards. A total of 1,576 green cards were issued in 2016, the MPS said.