Zhuhai's first district-level service center for expats opened Dec 25 in Sanzao Town, Jinwan District as a key step in building an internationalized residential community.

Unveiling ceremony with New Zealander Ranjith Gamage of Zhuhai Rundu Pharmaceutical, second from left [Photo by Zhang Zhou / Guanhai App]

The "Expats Home" is situated within the Guangdong Jinhu Group site at 3039 Hubin Road in Aviation New Town. It is described as spacious and well-equipped, with a cozy atmosphere for social contact. The "home" will hold regular activities to increase the sense of belonging to and identifying with the district, according to Lin Weiping, deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Jinwan District Committee.

More than 30 company executives and teachers from eight countries including the UK, Russia, and New Zealand attended the plaque unveiling. Among those who have long lived and worked in Jinwan was Ranjith Gamage, a New Zealand researcher at Zhuhai Rundu Pharmaceutical who delivered a speech. Gamage said Jinwan is his second home and he hopes to enhance exchanges with other foreigners in the district and help integrate different cultures at the service center.

A Three-Year Action Plan for Construction of a Pilot Internationalized Residential Community in Jinwan District (2020-22) was released Dec 7. Proposed in addition to the service center are bilingual websites and menus, enhancing "smart" services, international educational concepts, cultural integration, and ways to involve expats in building community.