Also, more than half the immigrants are not confident they will improve their living standards, with over 60 percent not having their own property in the city and nearly 50 percent not seeing any chance of improvement in the next 10 years.

But nearly 70 percent of the respondents said they were here for better opportunities, with 23 percent, who migrated with their family, saying they did so because their kids could get better opportunities.

More than 77 percent of the respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their life in the city. And over 50 percent considered themselves part of the city's higher or middle social class.

Also, most of them think most Shanghai residents are friendly, though they feel discriminated against at times.

Though 57 percent immigrants said they would marry the person they loved irrespective of which part of the country he or she came from, 27 percent hoped to marry a Shanghai resident.

Asked what their attitude towards the 2010 Shanghai World Expo was, 22 percent sai they felt very proud and another 62.5 percent said they would work harder, hoping to contribute to the event. But an overwhelming 95 percent would like to help others.

(China Daily 01/16/2007 page4)

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