Shanghai's Changning District aims to increase the percentage of its foreign population to 10 percent within five years from 8.86 percent.
It is part of a series of targets set by the district government to make Changning an "international quality district," officials said over the weekend.
About 70,000 residents from abroad are living in central Changning, accounting for about 30 percent of the city's total foreign population.
"The district government aims to develop Changning into an international quality district with innovation, fashion, vitality and a green and comfortable environment," said Weng Jianhua, deputy director of the district.
To achieve the goal, the district government publicized 52 targeted indexes to be accomplished by the end of 2021 on foreign population, social services, transport, urban construction and environment.
Foreign residents will take part in 15,000 community activities annually by 2021, one of the indexes says. Currently, they participate in over 9,000 community events every year.
Moreover, the district aims to make its foreign residents more satisfied every year to their communities' environments and services.
The government will invite expats to evaluate the services of local hospitals, schools and eateries, housing services, safety and the environment.
To better serve expats, bilingual signs will cover all in- and outdoors guideposts for roads, tourists attractions, Metro stations, parking lots and other venues.
About 70 percent of signs for public health and sports venues are in English and Chinese, while only 30 percent of cultural venues have had bilingual signs.
The district government also aims to issue 20,000 work permits to professionals from abroad within five years. It has launched a "one-stop service center" for residence permits, work permits, foreign expert certificates and related documents on Jinzhong Road in Hongqiao area.
The center has issued 80 work permits for foreign employees since the service was officially launched in May, said Xu Zejian, deputy Party secretary with the district's human resources and social security bureau.
Changning aims to attract at least 59 multinational corporations to set up their headquarters in the district by the end of 2021. Forty-four multinational companies were based in the district, mainly in the Hongqiao Central Business District, as of the end of 2016.
About 650,000 overseas tourists will travel to Changning annually by 2021, from 583,000 in 2016. The Hongqiao International Airport will handle 44 million passengers annually by then.
The index was jointly drawn up by the Changning government and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
It also sets targets on the number of Michelin-starred eateries, stores of international fashion brands, parks, museums, green transport, preserved historic buildings as well as residents' anticipated lifespan.
The district will build 38 kilometers of pedestrian paths by 2021 and 100,000 square meters of new parks and greenlands.
Average life expectancy of Changning residents is forecast to be a year longer than the city's average by 2021.
