Eighteen foreigners were granted "green cards" Tuesday by the Shanghai municipal government, becoming permanent residents of the east China industrial and commercial center.

Zhou Taitong, vice mayor of Shanghai, issued the permanent residential permits.

The "green card" system is part of China's reform and opening up police, Zhou said.

The municipal public security bureau began taking foreigners' application for the permanent residence since Aug. 23, 2004 and granted the "green cards" to 31 foreign people in last November.

Ma Zhendong, director of Shanghai Exit and Entry Administration, said before the implementation of the "green card" system, more than 130 foreigners acquired the residential permits in Shanghai, most of whom are the descendants of the overseas Chinese.

Source: Xinhua