【Starting from 2017, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, together with district governments, has started hosting the "Internationalized Shanghai Promotion Series" to help Shanghai turn itself into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping and technology innovation center, and become a global city of excellence and a modern socialistic international metropolis.

　　Following the first two events in Yangpu and Jing'an District, this May, an event series will be held in Huangpu. The event will highlight the advantages of the financial agglomeration in the Bund area and promote the Innovation and Development Demonstration Area for the High-end Service Industry at Bund Waterfront. Eastday.com sat down with some expats who shared their stories of living and working in Huangpu.】

　　Claude Maillot is the Chief Executive for Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore North Asia Zone and China. A romantic and polite gentleman he has been based here in Shanghai for the last five years.

　　Claude has worked for Bureau Veritas, a multinational shipbuilding company,for more than 35 years. Over that time he has made frequent business trips to China. He enjoys life here very much and hopes he could stay here till retirement.

　　Regarding his impression of the city, Claude praises the fact that Shanghai has experienced dramatic changes but still preserves its historical and cultural heritage well.“In my opinion, the most typical feature of Shanghai is that it is open to all cultures.”

　　“I am very happy that the company sentme to Shanghai. I love Chinese culture, especially Chinese poetry and delicious Chinese food everywhere. I love everything here!” he said enthusiastically with a look of excitement. He told me that in his spare time, he often goes travelling during which process he takes the opportunity to improve his Chinese through communicating with Chinese people.“I want to learn Chinese. I am not satisfied with myself, because I am busy and have no time to learn. But that is my pursuit.”

　　When asked why Bureau Veritas had established its office in the Huangpu district, he said that more than 100 years ago Bureau Veritas opened a representative office on the Bund and returned to the same district upon its return to China in 1993.“At that time we had only a handful of employees. We used to say China is the second hometown of Bureau Veritas, but actually it is the first hometown, because China has become its biggest operation center, even larger than France itself. We currently have 15,000 employees in China.”

　　“It is because of the good business environment that Bureau Veritashas flourished to today’s size. Many foreign companies like Bureau Veritas are rooted in the district, which demonstrates that the district government has made positive policies especially in terms of the simplification and transparency of administrative process. We have confidence in further development in Huangpu. At the same time, our company is committed to providing professional solutions in security, environmental protection and energy to continuously give back to Chinese society.”

　　However, he also expressed his worry about the rising business cost in the district. In terms of attracting overseas talents to settle down in Shanghai, he thinks that if the distribution of international schools for their children’s education is improved, it will be more competitive.

　　Claude is a witness to Shanghai’s dramatic changes that have taken place since reform and opening up.“Thirty years ago, when I arrived in Shanghai, the traffic jams were caused by bicycles but not cars. The city had only one tunnel. The Nanpu Bridge had not been built. Some shipyards could be seen on the Huangpu river...” He turned back to see the South Bund shoreline with a melancholy expression.

　　“I feel Shanghai’s dynamism every day. Everyone in the whole society is moving forwardfast. Although lots of things have changed, everything is in order. The city has developed dramatically but is still very safe. This is not the case even in some areas of foreign countries. But this could not be done in one day. It has demonstrated the discipline and executive ability of the Chinese government.”

　　As for China’s reform and opening up, this French company president expressed his sincere admiration.“Nowhere in the world has done as much as China, especially Shanghai,in reform and opening up. This big reform has required discipline, strategy, planning and courage. China today is the world’s second-largest economy, it cannot be done if it is closed. China has been linked with the world more and more closely. It has grown thanks to opening up, and the world has also benefited from it. China has sent rockets to space and has developed its own high-tech technology. The leapfrog development from zero to three is wonderful! China’s smart manufacturing takes the lead in the world, and mobile payment has spread across the country in not many years.” His words are full of excitement.“Through the changes I have witnessed in these 30 years, I believe China will continue to create miracles and the world will rely more and more on China.”

　　This French gentleman is very modest about receiving Shanghai’s prestigious Magnolia Award, given to foreign guests who have positively impacted Shanghai.However, his work with Bureau Veritas in Shanghai clearly shows that his modesty is simply that of a gentleman.

　　“In 2014, Bureau Veritas set up its second R&D center in Shanghai, employing excellent Chinese engineers with advanced technology. This initiative was mainly put forward by me and greatly supported by my staff. At present, Bureau Veritas is developing new types of ships which are more energy saving, efficient and environmentally protective. Our strength could attract more French ship builders to come here and I think this is maybe the gift Bureau Veritas could give back to China. Over the years, China’s shipbuilding industry has also developed rapidly and now ranks first in the world. It is another great leapfrog development China has achieved.”

　　When we leave Claude to the rest of his busy day, we consider how interesting it was to have met someone who first came to Shanghai when China’s economy was at a low ebb and now regards Shanghai as his own company’shometown. And that he loves the city as much as its locals do, can only be testament to the development made by both the Chinese and their foreign partners, like this modest French gentleman who has done so much for Shanghai and China.