China puts the first talent visa with the United States retreating to H-1BS

The bottom line is that, unlike the United States, China is not a migrant country. In 2020, only about 0.1 percent of the mainland’s population consisting of foreigners One estimate By researchers from the Kiel Global Economy Institute. This is approximately 1.4 million people in a country more than 1.4 billion. In the United States, in contrast, 15 percent of the population It consists of immigrants. Even other East Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea, are home to much more foreigners than China in terms of the size of the relative population.

Since the United States has already has a large number of immigrants from all over the world, it may be easier for newcomers to control it. Local companies operate in English, which is the global business language. Colleagues and friends are communicating through platforms like Gmail and Instagram, which are available in most parts of the world. When it comes to created amenities, the H-1B recipient of India or China who land in San Francisco or New York will not face a problem to find restaurants (even a good match!) That offer food that tastes like home.

However, in China, new arrivals must move in the scene of companies that are largely working in Chinese, or a few foreigners studying at primary school or while following STEM. The country’s ecosystem is also completely unique. Not only do newcomers face unfamiliar language and culture, but also a set of unfamiliar programs and applications, most notably WeChat.

The best reputation

There are signs that more people may be ready to overcome these barriers facing the experience of living in China, which is now increasingly associated with high -speed trains, electric cars and future cities. In places such as Greece, Spain and Germany, Most people Now that China is considered the best economic power in the world, according to the Pew Research Center. Africa, the continent with the smallest and fastest population in the world, is already sent More students To study in China every year from the United States or the United Kingdom.

I personally noticed that my American friends and families seem to have more positive impressions than China than they did a few years ago. This may be partially due to Chinese exports like Tiktok, Temu and Labubu. Many friends told me that they specifically want to visit Chongqing, a Chinese ability that did not attract many foreign tourists until the videos of their horizons and hot utensils are Viral On Instagram and Tiktok.

Whether this growing curiosity translates into people actually moved to China will partially rely on how the government deals with programs such as the new K visa. Politics reduces barriers in front of people who want to study or work there, but it also caused anxiety at home. Currently, it is not clear whether it will become a real gateway to new waves of international talents, or stumble in the face of the same growing nationalist feelings that reshape politics around the world.

This is an edition of Zi Yang and Louise Matsakis‘ Made in the Chinese newsletter. Read the previous newsletters here.