More overseas experts will be eligible for a visa that is valid for up to five years because of a new regulation.

The regulation, which was endorsed by five ministry-level departments in late September and released on Tuesday, stipulates that four groups of international professionals can benefit from the new long-term visa.

One group is people selected by the Recruitment Program of Global Experts, said Zhang Dong, a senior official with the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.