China's state-owned enterprise (SOE) chiefs are hoping to recruit their first foreign managers in the latest international recruitment drive.

An advertising campaign in major Chinese and foreign media will begin on June 19 to fill 21 assistant manager and chief legal counselor posts in 21 of the country's 167 central SOEs, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) announced Wednesday.

Five central SOEs are also looking to appoint a chief accountant each, but these posts have been reserved for current SOE employees.

A SASAC official said they would look in particular at applicants' career history and ability in organization and coordination when it came to filling the posts.

This is SASAC's fourth international recruitment drive since its establishment in 2003. Previous international drives have resulted in the appointments of 50 Chinese nationals in central SOEs, but no foreigners.

"It's a pity that all foreign applicants failed in the past, but we are really eager to find qualified foreigners this time," said Fan Changgang, the official in charge of the recruitment.

Initially, the posts of seven assistant managers and three chief accountants will be advertised for ten SOEs, including Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, China Huaneng Group and China Eastern Airlines.

In August, the SASAC will advertise for 11 chief legal counselors.

Fan said recruitment notices will be published on major domestic and overseas media, including SASAC's official Website.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2006)