Foreigners in Suzhou help with community affairs

Nathan Pelton teaches at the Suzhou Foreign Language School. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]

Foreigners living in Suzhou New District in East China's Jiangsu province have been proactively contributing to efforts to improve the community, local media outlets reported.

Earlier this year, the local government introduced a consultation room in the community that allows foreigners to contribute their suggestions on community services, activities, and development plans.

The consultation room is affiliated with the SND Foreigners Service Center, which was established in November 2020. The center is the first of its kind in Suzhou.

Ahti, a Finnish executive who has been living and working in SND for more than 10 years, is among those who have stepped forward to help. Besides helping local authorities publicize Chinese laws and regulations as well as immigration policies to his expatriate counterparts, Ahti has also helped fellow foreigners attain their health QR codes, voice their needs to the residential community, and assist with their adjustments to local life.

Nathan Pelton, an English teacher from the United States who works at the Suzhou Foreign Language School, has collaborated with the local government in the filming of short videos that help foreigners learn more about Chinese laws and regulations and the local environment.

Nobumitsu Fujiwara, the president of Suzhou NDK Co, the first Japanese company to set up operations in SND in January 1994, is another expatriate who has been active in community work. The Japanese most recently donated medical supplies to a nucleic acid testing site and participated in volunteer work.

"I am touched that SND is keen to understand my enterprise's needs and I think this is why more and more Japanese enterprises are choosing to start operations in SND," Fujiwara said.

Nobumitsu Fujiwara (R), the president of Suzhou NDK Co, passes medical supplies to a medical worker. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]