A\r\n screenshot of the online platform of "A Collection of Regulations and \r\nRules of Shanghai City". [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An official online platform that allows local and foreign residents \r\nand businesses in Shanghai to search for the municipality's laws and \r\nrules that are currently in force was launched on Jan 20.

Called "A Collection of Regulations and Rules of Shanghai City", the \r\nplatform can be accessed through various channels, including the \r\nofficial website of the municipal government, the website of the \r\nShanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice, and the WeChat account of the \r\ninformation office of the municipal government.

The bureau said the bilingual platform – it is available in Chinese \r\nand English – was designed to better meet expatriates' needs in making \r\ninvestments, working and living in the city.

Users can enter keywords, such as "residence permit", "new energy", \r\nand "intellectual property" and all documents related to the topic will \r\nappear.

"This is also an effort to help build a more market-oriented and \r\ninternational business environment with the power of the rule of law," \r\nsaid Lu Weidong, director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice.