Foreigners feel at home in Changning

Carlo D'Andrea, vice-president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, shares similar affection for the city.

"I feel home. I'm from Italy, and they are saying that Italians are the Chinese of Europe. So when I am here in China in Shanghai, I feel kind of home," said D'Andrea, who will mark 20 years living in Shanghai later this year.

D'Andrea said while more investment is expected from Europe to China and Shanghai, he believed there will be more and more Chinese outbound investment as well.

"I would be here. Indeed, I would like to be here to watch what's going on," he added.

The Changning district accounts for one-fifth of Shanghai's registered expatriates population, and the district houses 27 consulates and more than 200 diplomatic residences, accounting for about one-third and half of the city's total respectively, said Hou Jijun, head of the Changning district.

Changning is currently home to some 6,500 foreign-funded enterprises, including 85 regional headquarters of multinational companies, Hou added.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn