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Phoebe Zhang

A French-Moroccan mathematician was among a group of researchers Chinese President Xi Jinping met during a tour of an AI start-up hub in Shanghai on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for foreign entrepreneurs in the country.
Hamza Boukili, an entrepreneur and maths teacher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), was among those on hand for Xi’s trip to the SMC Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Centre, according to the Shanghai-based Shangguan Observer.
The centre is one of China’s first incubators and accelerators for large-scale artificial intelligence models, and the visit was Xi’s first inspection trip since the revival of the US-China tariff war this year.
According to the report, Boukili started working at SJTU in 2020 and became a permanent resident of China this year.
Permanent residency is a highly selective process and, according to the Shanghai government, applicants must either be employed by a designated science and technology innovation company, or have had an annual salary of at least six times the annual urban employee average. Alternatively, they can qualify if they are core members of research teams.
The report also said Boukili had a company that used AI to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
“I can clearly feel that everyone is highly supportive of entrepreneurship. The results we’ve achieved are of great value to individuals, the university where I work, and even the entire region,” the report quoted him as saying. “When the environment is that good, why not jump into it?”
Boukili did not respond to an interview request from the South China Morning Post.


During the tour, Xi once stressed the importance of innovation and self-reliance, a message he has sent repeatedly to highlight China’s determination to strengthen its core advantages to tackle external pressures.
On Tuesday, he called on Shanghai to speed up its efforts to become a leading source of cutting-edge innovation and a globally influential tech hub.
“We need to intensify efforts to enhance policy support, nurture talent, and strive to develop more high-quality, secure, and reliable AI products,” state news agency Xinhua quoted him as saying.
While Shanghai has long attracted overseas talent and investment, it is stepping up efforts to appeal to foreign professionals as the country tries to revive growth and gain an edge in high technology.
To woo foreign firms and capital, the authorities have pledged to cut red tape and create a “first-class business environment” that is market-oriented, rules-based and on a par with international standards.
In January, Shanghai announced it was even exploring the possibility of allowing businesses in certain areas to bypass the country’s “Great Firewall” to access internet sites overseas.
According to the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection, as of November 30, more than 4 million foreigners had entered Shanghai ports last year, double the total for 2023.


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Entrepreneur Hamza Boukili was among the welcoming party for Xi’s first inspection trip since the revival of the US-China tariff war


Entrepreneur Hamza Boukili was among the welcoming party for Xi’s first inspection trip since the revival of the US-China tariff war.


Artificial intelligence (AI)

Expat talent in the picture as Xi Jinping visits Shanghai AI hub

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Entrepreneur Hamza Boukili was among the welcoming party for Xi’s first inspection trip since the revival of the US-China tariff war

Entrepreneur Hamza Boukili was among the welcoming party for Xi’s first inspection trip since the revival of the US-China tariff war