The multilingual service hotline 12345 began Oct 28 to provide efficient and high-quality public services concerning foreign affairs, foreign-related enterprises, and expats in need.
Those in need can dial 12345 and press 3 following vocal instructions for consular authentication, visas, APEC Business Travel Cards, and vaccinations for foreigners. Service hours are 9 am to noon and 2-6 pm, Monday to Friday.
Initiation ceremony [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]
English service is provided by operators, while Japanese, Korean, German, and Russian languages are supported by the Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Office. A mechanism ensures unified reception and assignment, timely reply and complaint settlement, and feedback collection.
The multilingual hotline is to optimize Zhuhai's international business environment and accelerate construction of a modernized and internationalized special economic zone. Mattia Pinza, CEO of Zhuhai Pinto Food, said the hotline is helpful as foreigners can seek timely help for daily problems.
The hotline can help foreigners communicate in China and learn more about policies such as visas, noted Michael Vos, a senior manager at MTU Maintenance Zhuhai.
（City of Zhuhai）
