China will foster more senior professionals of high caliber and
people mastering advanced technology and foreign languages this
year to cope with challenges brought about by its entrance to the
World Trade Organization (WTO).
The government will adopt practical measures to lure back more
overseas Chinese studying abroad to serve the country and carve out
careers for themselves.
Addressing a national conference yesterday in Beijing, Minister of
Personnel Zhang Xuezhong said his ministry is joining hands with
authorities concerned to thrash out a proposal aimed at selecting
returning Chinese high-tech students as leaders of the fields.
As
the number of job opportunities decreases in some developed
countries due to the sluggish world economy, "China ought to seize
the opportunity to encourage more overseas Chinese with genuine
ability and learning to come back and run high-tech enterprises,"
Zhang said.
Zhang urged local governments to provide better services so those
returning professionals could establish and run high-tech parks
inside China.
Chinese people abroad have been encouraged to come home in the
past, but the latest policies go farther by promising better jobs
and preferential treatment when they return, including higher
salaries and free entry to and from the country.
Since 1978, about 400,000 Chinese have seized the chance to work or
study in more than 100 foreign countries or regions. This exodus
has continued during the past two decades.
So
far, more than 130,000 people have returned, according to the
latest official statistics.
Some 60 industrial or high-tech parks have been set up throughout
China with government approval. Returning Chinese experts run more
than 2,000 high-tech enterprises within these parks.
China is facing fierce competition for talented people this year
following its entrance to the WTO and the subsequent influx of more
foreign firms, Zhang said.
To
win such a contest, Zhang's ministry has outlined a plan for
fostering a large number of talented people this year.
Under the plan, more working stations for post-doctoral study for
senior researchers will be established throughout China by
universities, research institutions and State-owned large
enterprises.
The Ministry of Personnel and its local agencies have pledged to
simplify official procedures for approving such stations and cancel
quotas for their establishment.
While improving administration for experts, the government will
choose more young and middle-age professionals as outstanding
experts to enjoy special subsidies.
To
collect data about senior experts, State and provincial databases
are about to be set up this year with hotlines for people seeking
key details and contacts, Zhang said.
It
is hoped such a resource can help foster more talented people for
China.
(China Daily January 6,
2002)