As the capital of China and an international metropolis, Beijing is home to many foreigners either living here for a long term or for just a short stay. To provide convenience for them, the city leads other municipalities and provincial capitals of the country in issuing on February 2 new foreigner residence permits. Foreigners holding permanent residence permits can make multiple-entry within the valid period and do not need to apply for returning visa. Those who live in Beijing permanently can apply for five-year residence permit. This is a measure that significantly benefits foreign employees, students and correspondents.

China's reform, opening up and modernization drive have drawn the Chinese and foreigners closer to each other. Thousands upon thousands of Chinese are living abroad and foreigners of the same numbers are in China. Friends are indeed found everywhere across the world. To have friends in multitude is a good thing, but this also entails difficulties. We have often heard complaints from outbound Chinese about difficulty in getting visa and residence permits. So it is imaginable that foreigners in China may also make similar complaints about "difficulty living in Beijing". That is the common sigh of regret of the Chinese, it is all the more so of foreigners. Beijing has come to realize this problem and is making efforts to solve it.

Visitors to China are our guests. Foreigners who come to our country all have their own careers, lives and interests, and we should open our door to accord them warm welcome as long as they are friends. On the eve of the Spring Festival, Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out at a meeting with foreign experts that talents are the foundation for the administration and prosperity of our country. We should persist in the strategy of rejuvenating China through science and education and building up a powerful country; while energetically fostering domestic talents, we continue to invite and recruit foreign talents, widely attract foreign brains, as well as introduce advanced technology and management expertise. We must accelerate the establishment of systems of laws, regulations and policies for the introduction of foreign brains and create a better working and living environment for foreign experts in China. We sincerely welcome foreign experts to serve China's modernization drive in all forms.

In today's China, both state leaders and ordinary people respect foreigners and treat them friendly and politely. To facilitate their living in our country, related local departments should also take new measures to meet the needs of, and provide conveniences for, foreign experts.

We must offer active and efficient services to foreigners in China to make them feel at home, and to give full play to their ability and wisdom, so that they can work and live happily in China. Besides difficulties in obtaining visa and residence permits, foreigners in China will also encounter difficulties in their basic necessities, children's education, health care and so on. As the host, we must be prompt in discovering and satisfying their needs. China is a country of hospitality and openness, which require us to treat foreigners not only with a friendly attitude, but also with concrete actions.

By People's Daily Online