A first-of-its-kind five-year work permit for foreign legal professionals employed by law firms in China was issued on in Changning district, in Shanghai on Monday as the city continues efforts to optimize its business environment.

"Before this, we could hardly arrange any overseas trips during the month required for the annual visa application, which significantly affected our international business," Benjamin Bai, international partner at King & Wood Mallesons in Shanghai, said. "Even domestic travel during that period was inconvenient."

As a Chinese American who has worked in Shanghai since 2009, Bai said that Shanghai's work permit breakthrough is "extremely meaningful", adding that it took only a week for his special visa application to be processed.