On the Move: China's Populace Takes Advantage of New Freedoms

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 20, 2001

On the Move: China's Populace Takes Advantage of New Freedoms

It has become easier for Chinese people to move from one region to another of the country, go abroad and get driver's licenses since China kicked off reform of residence permit system, simplified entry and exit procedures and improved personal transportation.

First Non-Native Private Enterprise Owner Granted Permanent Residence of Beijing

More freedom to move within the country

This year has been one of unprecedented movement for people in China. Earlier in the year, the Chinese government relaxed restrictions on residency and transportation that have since inspired thousands to pick up and make long-planned moves to other regions of the country.

In March, China's Ministry of Public Security announced a change to the country's residence permit system, which mainly limits rural people to freely move into cities and gain permanent residence permits.

Under the new rule, people and their close relatives can move between selected small cities provided they have stable jobs and a place to live. Nanjing, Shijiazhuang and Zhengzhou have all implemented the new rule.

A few big cities, like those in Zhejiang, Henan and Hebei provinces, have also kicked off residence reforms.

About 660,000 people have moved into cities in Zhejiang Province this year. The province has accepted 1.9 million new residents since it started residence reform three years ago.

Simplified procedure to go abroad

But it is not just movement inside the country that has become easier. Procedures for going abroad have also been simplified.

In November, the Ministry of Public Security announced a series of changes designed to cut short exit and entry paper work. (Detailed Rules)

In Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, residents who previously had to ask permission from their employers at home and hand in invitation letters from overseas to leave the country can now apply for visas by simply presenting their permanent residence cards.

Easier to get car licenses

On a smaller scale, personal transportation has improved as well. Driver's licenses were once difficult to obtain, but now car owners in 15 cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing can now get licenses on the day they buy cars. The ministry said other cities will offer a similar deal beginning January 1, 2002.

Big Regional Reforms on Residence Registration System

Ningbo--Register Where You Work and Live

Ningbo City in the economically-developed Zhejiang Province, east China, has fully reformed the former household registration system, allowing people to register as permanent residents in cities and towns where they work and live.

Guangxi --ID Card Instead of Residence Booklet

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has lately carried out a reform in which a time-worn residence booklet registration system was replaced by ID card registration, a step taken to ensure free population flow from country to town and step up urbanization all over Guangxi.

Click here for an official interview on household registration reform by People's Daily

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