Shanghai will test a new policy that allows skilled foreign professionals to immigrate to China in a trial that will eventually be adopted in other cities across the country.

The policy is on a list of 15 new policies that Shanghai will pilot before they are adopted nationwide.

They will help the city government achieve its goal of creating a scientific innovation center with “global influence,” Shanghai Vice Mayor Zhou Bo said.

“Shanghai still has major bottlenecks such as a lack of multinational headquarters and high-end professionals,” Zhou told a standing committing meeting of the city’s top political advisory body yesterday.

The State Council, or cabinet, issued a guideline on Monday that has included the skilled immigration policy for foreigners. The guidelines are designed to “deepen institutional reform and accelerate an innovative driven development strategy.”

According to the guideline, China will loosen the criteria for skilled foreign professionals to gain permanent residence permits. The government will also consider establishing a new “skilled immigrant policy.”

Furthermore, senior foreign professionals with permanent residence permits who establish scientific enterprises in China will be eligible for the same benefits as Chinese citizens.