Jun Hirasawa (right) is awarded a certificate to prove that he is the first China green card recipient in Lujiazui. [Photo/Eastday.com]

Shanghai’s Lujiazui Free Trade Zone issued its first China green card in September. 

Jun Hirasawa, Chairman of Marubeni (China) Co., Ltd., a company located in Lujiazui Free Trade Zone, received his permanent residence permit in China on September 15. He couldn’t believe his ears after learning that he was the first foreigner in Lujiazui Free Trade Zone to get the permit. “It is like a dream come true,” said Mr. Hirasawa. The residence permit in China is often described by the media as the hardest green card to get in the world.

“I submitted the application on May 18 and got the China green card on September 15. It was 121 days,” Mr. Hirasawa told the reporter. He was very grateful to those who had helped him obtain the permit, saying, “I applied for the permit soon after the new policy was launched. After finding that I was unfamiliar with the policy, the staff of the Free Trade Zone administration bureau in Lujiazui gave me instruction and offered me their greatest help and support, avoiding many detours in my application process. I’d like to give my special thanks to them.”