Though it's common knowledge now that many overseas Chinese
students are returning home for career opportunities, the 35
Shanghai companies that went to the United States recently to
recruit employees were surprised by the enthusiastic responses they
received from the students.
Nearly 4,000 Chinese students turned out at the recruitment talks
in San Francisco, New York and Chicago held by the companies, all
coming from the Pudong New Area.
More than 2,500 students competed for the 238 positions available.
In some cases, there were as many as 50 students competing for one
position.
According to analysts, one reason why so many overseas Chinese
students want to come back is that American hi-tech companies have
been laying off employees in large numbers as a result of the
slowdown in the U.S. economy.
But more importantly, Shanghai's rapidly developing economy,
especially its prospering hi-tech sector, is offering attractive
incentives to bring overseas students home.
Statistics show that up to now Shanghai has lured more than 25, 000
overseas Chinese students, accounting for 20 percent of all
returned overseas students.
The returned students have registered to run more than 1,300
companies in Shanghai, with a registered capital of US$210
million.
In
the first half of the year, 276 overseas students picked up jobs in
Shanghai, up 80 percent from the same period of last year.
Since 1992, Shanghai municipal government has formulated a series
of favorable policies that encourage overseas Chinese students to
start careers in Shanghai.
(Xinhua News
Agency 08/16/2001)