Tadsalak Pongchokwattana, a Thai international student graduating from Donghua University, has lived in Shanghai for three years. During that time, he has progressed from a student to an intern and is now taking his first steps as a young entrepreneur.

His experience reflects the effectiveness of the Shanghai Hongqiao One-Stop Service Center for Overseas Talent, located in Changning district, in facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship practices for global talent.

Born into a family of Chinese descent, Tadsalak has had a favorable impression of China since childhood when he visited the country with his parents. Although he didn't understand Chinese at the time, he still felt familiar with China's food and daily customs. The vibrancy of Chinese cities and the richness of local culture deepened his interest in China.

As he grew older, his affection for China guided his decision to study here. He spent time in Guangzhou and Beijing before arriving in Shanghai in 2023 to pursue a degree in Business Administration at Donghua University.

In 2024, after being recommended, he began an internship at the Shanghai Hongqiao Overseas Talent One-Stop Service Center, leveraging his fluency in Chinese. He experienced firsthand the conveniences in learning, living, and working in Shanghai. The commercial zones and scenic spots offered him entertainment beyond academic studies, the center provided him with practical experience and support for his future career, and the accessible transportation brought him much convenience. All these strengthened his desire to remain in Changning.

At the center, under the one-on-one guidance of his mentor, Tadsalak quickly mastered various operational skills. Sitting at the consultation desk, he confidently engaged with visitors, showcasing his professionalism. He also seized the opportunity to practice his English skills as most foreign visitors communicated in English.

Tadsalak was not the only foreign intern at the center. His internship opportunity was facilitated by the center's continuous efforts in upgrading its global talent services over the past five years.

Focusing on the practical living requirements of foreign experts, the center pioneered an "expats serving expats" model, the first of its kind in China. Foreign social workers offer 31 life services, including housing, healthcare, education, housekeeping, training, elderly care, and communication. The initiative eased procedural difficulties for expats and helped them better integrate into Shanghai.

During his internship, Tadsalak exchanged ideas with other interns from various countries, learning about each other's cultures. He told his family that the excellent internship not only honed his skills but also allowed him to forge valuable friendships.

More importantly, Tadsalak gained extensive knowledge of Chinese laws and relevant policies, which inspired him to start his own company. Since China introduced permanent visa-free travel for Thai citizens, Tadsalak noticed that Thai tourists ranked among the top groups of foreign visitors to Shanghai. With insights into the China-Thailand cross-border service market, he planned to register a company focusing on specialized cross-border services for Thai tourists. His business provides professional consultation and customized matchmaking services, and cross-border procurement services that covers the full chain, from receiving orders through Thai online channels to purchasing goods in China and arranging precise delivery after repackaging in Thailand.

The center offered further guidance on startup policies and connected him with the district's investment promotion office and industrial parks. The office promptly initiated a full-process assistance mechanism, helping him complete critical procedures such as company registration with the market supervision administration and tax registration.

This summer, Tadsalak obtained his business license within just one week. He was impressed by the efficiency of the procedures and appreciated Changning's favorable business environment and high-quality services.

Although his company is small, its schedule has been full since operating three months ago, with tourism accompaniment and local reception as its primary services. Recently, Tadsalak hired a foreign employee, and went to the service center to complete the necessary procedures.

With all materials prepared online in advance, they only needed to print and submit the documents. Center staff also helped the new employee set up an account on the Individual Income Tax app. Reflecting on the experience, Tadsalak said that from being a service provider himself to experiencing the services firsthand, he further understood the convenience and support the center offers.

In recent years, the center introduced the "three certificates handled at one time" system, integrating the work permit, work-related residence permit, and overseas talent residence permit applications. Expats can now process all three documents at a single counter in just one visit, reducing the total processing time from 21 working days to 12 and streamlining the required materials from 22 items to 14.

As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, Tadsalak expressed his aspiration to become a bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries, bringing more Thai visitors to travel to China and strengthening ties between the two countries.

He said that although he has lived in Changning for only three years, he feels a deep connection with the district. He has experienced warmth and friendliness from the locals, whether in studies, internships, or entrepreneurship. To him, Shanghai feels like his second home, and one of his dreams is to bring his parents to China in the future.

Tadsalak's story reflects how an overseas youth weave personal growth into the development of a dynamic city and pursue new possibilities in Shanghai. With its vibrant talent services ecosystem, Changning district is committed to optimizing its talent development environment to attract more international talent like him to the city, helping them become part of the metropolis.

Source: WeChat account of Changning district information office (ID: "shchangning")