649 foreigners have obtained China's Foreigners Permanent Residence Card, or the Chinese "green card", by the end of this September.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the card holders are from 33 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

China announced the formal implementation of The Supervisory Laws Governing the Examination and Approval of Foreigners being Granted the Right to Permanent Residence on August 15, 2004, hoping to attract senior personnel, from abroad, as well as investment.

According to this legislation, card holders have the right to make a permanent living in China and, with a passport and Chinese green card, to enter and exit China freely.

However, qualifying for a Chinese green card is not easy. Apart from spouses of Chinese people, their minor children and elderly family members, there is a rather high threshold set for other categories of applicants, who include investors, highly skilled individuals and people who have made special and major contributions to the development of the country.

Also those who obtain a Chinese green card, are required to ensure that they do not stay in China for less than three months in any year or for less than a year in a five year period.

(CRI November 18, 2005)