Lawmaker proposes to grant working visa to foreign students

Beijing, March 14 (People’s Daily Online) – A deputy of the National People’s Congress, China’s supreme lawmaking body, has called for strengthen the administration of foreigners in China during the ongoing NPC session in Beijing.

Hu Youqing, a deputy with Taiwan delegation, said the increasing international personal exchange has made it imperative to amend the current laws for foreigners’ entry and exit, which was made in 1985.

According to the Ministry of Public, 40 million people enter and exit China annually in recent years, roughly two-thirds of British population and two times of that of Australia.

According to a report by the International Organization of Immigration, aliens in China accounted for 1 percent of Chinese population in 2008.

Hu said the new situation has made it an urgent task to amend laws concerning foreigner’s administration.

As the administration of aliens involves in many aspect, he proposed to set up a comprehensive organ to do the job, which is now the sole responsibility of public security department.

To attract foreign talents, he said China should consider issue working visas for foreign students and lower the threshold for the issuance of residence permit to aliens.