Japanese expert Yasunori Bito (right) instructs a BWIC technician on product design. [Photo by Fan Jingjing for China Daily]

Six foreign experts deciding to spend their Spring Festival in Xinzhou city, Shanxi province, said they won't feel lonely thanks to the special care they're getting from local officials and residents.

Jiang Jian, a semiconductor expert from Singapore and general manager of Xinzhou-based integrated circuit manufacturer BWIC, is among the six experts.

"I decided to stay during Spring Festival to follow the local government's guidelines on pandemic control," Jiang said. "As a senior executive of a Chinese company, I see it as my responsibility to do my part in the fight against COVID-19."

Jiang, a Singaporean-Chinese, is a veteran specialist who has been in the semiconductor industry for nearly 20 years. He is also the head of the board of foreign experts hired by the Xinzhou Economic Development Zone.

He said that he was very happy to receive specialty food from development zone officials on Feb 1.

"There are also big celebrations for Spring Festival in Singapore because there is a huge population with ancestral roots in China.

"It's a pity that I can't be with my family in Singapore for this special occasion," Jiang said. "However, celebrating a typical Chinese Spring Festival with my friends here in Xinzhou will be a blessing as well."

Another overseas expert feeling the festive joy is Yasunori Bito from Japan, who is also a specialist in semiconductors and works with Jiang at BWIC.

"Chinese and Japanese people share many similarities in culture," Bito said. "We both celebrate Spring Festival－although the festival is celebrated on Jan 1 in Japan－and value reunions with our families."

He said when he received New Year's food as a gift from the development zone's officials, he was very happy that many typical Japanese varieties were included in the package.

"Thanks to the officials for their consideration, I felt so much closer to home when I saw the familiar food," Bito said. "I'm increasingly attached to this city because of the considerate officials and friendly people."

Ding Litian, head of the administrative committee of the Xinzhou development zone, expressed his special gratitude to the experts staying in Xinzhou.

"The six experts have been in Xinzhou since the beginning of last year and they will stay for another Spring Festival due to the guidelines on pandemic response," Ding said.

Jiang said he is very glad to stay in the city.

"The stay will be good for our health as it will avoid the risk of getting infected while traveling," he said. "I love living in this city, where life is convenient and the environment is clean. I'd like to pay a visit to the nearby Wutai Mountains, which is a Buddhist holy land and renowned tourist attraction in China."

Wang Liqiang contributed to this story.