Changchun's expatriate community believes size doesn't matter. It appreciates quality over quantity.

So does the local and Jilin's provincial government, which offers various support programs for overseas expertise.

"It's a very nice city," said Santiago Duenas Carrera, vice-chairman and vice-general manager of Changchun Heber Biological Technology Co Ltd.

"It is well organized. The foreign-expert support is great in Changchun."

Jilin's expat community isn't large but the city has made great eforts to pull in top talent from around the globe and the provincial government hosts events for the growing group.

On New Year's Eve expats and locals gathered at Changchun's World Life Club to handroll jiaozi, Chinese dumplings,－a staple of Chinese lunar New Year adapted for the equivalent Gregorian-calendar festival.

Foreigners make dumplings at Changchun's World Life Club to celebrate the new year.[Liuxiao/China Daily]

There were also performances and given the date, many people were enjoying a few drinks. The World Life event was organized by Jilin's provincial information ofice, the provincial education department and the Jilin People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

The theme was: "Experience native culture and lifestyle; enjoy local food and scenery; cherish unforgettable memories." Oficials presented foreign guests with copies of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.

Jilin's provincial information ofice division director Qiu Zhaomin, who presented the books, said the government invited expats to write about their experiences in the city.

"Many foreigners in Jilin have stories," he said and added that travel was a common theme of the writings. Santiago said he was happy to accept the book. " (It) allows me to learn more, not only about China's past, but also China's future," the 41-year-old said.

Northeast Normal University business teacher John Rutledge said he also appreciated receiving the book. "I can understand Xi Jinping's viewpoint if I read this," the 50-year-old told local media in Chinese.

Rutledge said a lot changed between the time he left Changchun in 2012 after a three-year stint and returned early last year. "The biggest change is people's thinking," he said. Much of this transformation is in the expat community. Rutledge said he reunited with some of the city's foreigners when he returned but found the tightknit community is splintering as it grows. "It's small but starting to fracture and people are doing their own thing," he said.

"There are about four out of 30 who like to regularly get together and do stuff."

Rutledge said the local martial art kendo school frequented by expats was an example.

"There will be 10 people at most," he said and added that sometimes it is just one student and an instructor.

"In Beijing, you would have 50 (regular) members ... you would have enough people you could sustain it," he said. Carrera said an advantage of working in the city was the chance to help operate a Sino-Cuban joint venture. "There are chances to exchange ideas and support what we do (at work)," he said. Carrera's views seem to represent the ethos of Changchun's foreigners, whether they are dealing with one another or locals.