Qingdao Initiates Creation of Online Services Platform For Foreign Residents

Qingdao has officially launched its first online service platform tailored for foreign residents. Led by the MCC-BERIS National Language Service Export Base, in collaboration with the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the various administrative agencies of the Qingdao West Coast New Area (QWCNA)—namely Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Marine Affairs—as well as local universities, the platform aims to offer streamlined, personalized, and one-stop services to improve the living environment for expatriates in Qingdao, promote cross-cultural exchange, and enhance the citys global service standards.

Director Zhao Zhonghui of the MCC-BERIS Translation Center stated that the platform will offer a dedicated app and website for foreign residents, covering services such as information consultation, government affairs, language support, community interaction, emergency assistance, business collaboration, and lifestyle resources. The platform will provide comprehensive guidelines on Qingdaos policies, living tips, visa procedures, education, healthcare, and employment, helping expatriates quickly adapt to life in the city. Leveraging the Translation Centers expertise, it will offer multilingual translation services, in-person assistance, and an eight-hour English helpline to address daily and work-related language needs. An eight-hour emergency response mechanism will also be established to provide swift assistance and guidance to foreign residents during critical situations. An online community encouraging expatriates to share experiences and cultural stories will also be promoted to foster cross-cultural exchange, including features like event registration and hobby groups to strengthen their sense of belonging and expand social networks. The platform will provide value-added services such as market research, legal consultation, and business matchmaking for business cooperation to stimulate economic collaboration and development between Chinese and foreign enterprises.

The platforms development is planned in two phases. Phase one focuses on establishing an information service platform with sections for local news, in-depth analyses, mutual assistance messages, government liaison, event registration, in-person assistance, a help hotline, and personal accounts. Phase two will expand services by adding functionalities such as visa processing, job opportunities in China, business onboarding, online payments, store ratings, and categorized information. The first phase is scheduled to launch in June 2025.