The municipal bureau of science and technology of Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, recently introduced two new policies to improve services for foreign talents and attract more foreign experts amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

The first policy is aimed at helping foreign employees of local companies return to work. According to the policy, foreigners can apply for work permits on the "service system for foreigners working in China", an official online platform operated by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

The policy also encourages local insurance companies to sell short-term insurance to foreigners working in the city to guarantee they can pay for health expenses amid the outbreak of the epidemic.

The second policy is meant to attract more skilled foreign engineers and provide them with better services. According to the policy, foreign engineers who have worked in Zhoushan for over one year with an annual salary of more than 300,000 yuan ($42,746) can receive up to 500,000 yuan in subsidies once a year up to a maximum of three times within five years.

Foreign engineers can also receive various types of services related to daily life, entertainment, finances, and more.