What they say

Tianjin, the gateway to North China, is a fast-growing city. The government support and talent available in Tianjin make it a great place for the logistics business. In the past, most foreign companies set up factories in Tianjin to make products for exporting. Nowadays, the rise of the middle class in China has altered the strategies of most companies. As the market in Tianjin has matured, we are targeting the domestic market. The free trade zone in Tianjin is great for foreign companies to do business. As a well-positioned port city, Tianjin will have a bright future.

Martin Winchell, chairman of AmCham China's Tianjin Chapter

I think people in China and in Tianjin are very curious about different things. We invite artists to come to China. I interact with Chinese people. I learn about Chinese culture. We know the background of the students, so we try to teach them something different. Most of them adapt to it. We pay attention to interaction and speaking French in real life. Of course we have to learn the vocabulary and grammar, and the Chinese students are good at that. Tianjin is opening up more and more and becoming more and more international.

Fabrice Plancon, director of Alliance Francaise Tianjin

It is very easy to come here and it is very easy to live here. Tianjin is a very easy city to live in. I think credit needs to go to the municipal government. They preserve the cultural heritage, not only from the long-distance past, but also the last few centuries. We love to walk around the city just for the beauty of it. China is the future and we want to be part of the future. I think Tianjin is already a center for healthcare in many areas. I think Tianjin has the potential to become a leader in China and the world.

Afnan Masoud, general manager of United Family Healthcare Reproductive Medicine Center

Tianjin is a city renowned for its universities, education and emphasis on high education industry. It has a reputation for being very open to foreign businesses. It is a great fit for us because of our passion for education. We want Tianjin to be proud of us just as we are proud of Tianjin. We are here to absorb Chinese culture. We see a lot of potential here in Tianjin for growth. As the city opens up, there are lots of opportunities for foreign schools to come in. I am excited to be in Tianjin. It is a city that is open and warm to us.

Julian Jeffrey, master of Wellington College International Tianjin

I've actually really enjoyed getting used to being here because of my traveling experiences. I have to say Tianjin has been very welcoming to me and my family ever since the beginning. We love this city because of its long history. For me, it is the food I want to learn more about. Right now, my favorite food is the Tianjin pancake. I think Tianjin is in the right spot and Tianjin is on the roadmap. We see great development taking place in the city. I think the trend is going to be the luxury hotel industry. I think the government has done a great job investing, trying to attract domestic and international tourists to come to the city.

Hugo Montanari, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin

In Tianjin, we have real Chinese consumers shopping in the malls and leasing offices. If your clients, like ours in Tianjin, are 95 percent Chinese, you need a Chinese-focused strategy. In Tianjin, we have a lot of government clients. They are focused on making sure Tianjin sells itself well. Today, with a lot of investment in services, hotels and professional services, the city is changing a lot. Tianjin is a great place to get around. Tianjin now is a tourist hub. It is a great place to live. The money the government has invested in green spaces has paid off.

Michael Hart, managing director of the Tianjin Branch of JLL

(China Daily 09/18/2018 page18)