China's opening to the outside world has expanded to family arena, with the acceptance for the first time of foreigners competing for the "model family" title this year in Shanghai, China's largest municipality.

All foreigners and people of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan origin, who have lived in Shanghai for two years or longer, and who abide by Chinese laws and regulations and actively participate in public welfare undertakings, are welcome to vie for becoming one of 300 " model families" this year.

Applications have begun and the final result of the competition will be announced at the end of this year, according to the organizing committee.

The election of "model families" started in China in the 1980s, with good relations among family members and upstanding morality being the major criteria.

Each winning family will win a red nameplate printed with the words "Wu Hao Jia Ting", or "five-good families". Most nail the nameplate to their front door, showing to others the happy lives of their family.

In fact, some of Shanghai's neighborhood communities encouraged foreigners to compete for the "model family" title several years ago. This typical traditional Chinese event attracted many foreigners living in Shanghai.

The family of Noyan Rona, a Turk, who lives in the Changning District, has won the title of "model family" given by the local neighborhood committee for the past five consecutive years.

"They selected me because I don't beat my wife," Rona said in jest.

Rona hopes that his family will win the city-level "good family" title this year.
In Rona's view, a model family should live together harmoniously, respect neighbors and be respected by neighbors, and contribute to society.

"This is a glorious, but difficult target," Rona said.

Including foreigners in the competition reflects the need of social progress, said Chen Jianjun, one of the initiators of the event.

In the Hongqiao neighborhood community where Rona lives, there are more than 2,000 foreigners, accounting for over 50 percent of the neighborhood's total population. In some neighborhood communities in the Pudong New District, 100 percent of residents are foreigners.

Chen said he has learned that with further mingling and better understanding of Chinese society, more foreigners have gradually begun to accept Chinese traditions and culture.

Sociologist Yu Bo said changes in the criteria for selecting model families, a result of social change, have attracted foreigners to take part in such an event with typical Chinese characteristics.

Twenty years ago, the criteria for outstanding families required family members to be a good worker, a good citizen in society, a good member of his or her family and a good student at school.

However, the criteria for this year's "model family" of Shanghai are wider.

Competitors are required to abide by laws and regulations, and actively participate in public affairs.

They should study hard and be enterprising, love their job, advocate equality between men and women, respect elders and cherish children, and provide their children with the best possible health care and education. They should also be industrious and thrifty in managing their household, and friendly to the environment.

The role of a family in society is stressed in the current selection of model families, and that is acceptable to foreigners, said Yu Bo.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2003)