In a move sure to incite more students to pursue their university studies abroad, the Chinese government announced on Thursday that all students returning to the country after having graduated abroad would benefit from certain employment privileges.

 

 

Chinese students studying abroad would have special privileges if they return to work after graduation.

 

These lucky graduates will be able to work without residency restrictions, personnel quotas and pay limits, according to a regulation jointly issued by the Ministries of Personnel and Education.

 

Major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai control the inflow of migrants seeking work with a tight residency control policy. This will be waived for returning graduates in elite sectors of employment, read the document.

 

Furthermore, the Personnel Ministry will, along with other ministries, give out grants to attract graduates possessing necessary skills.

 

The regulation will also ease procedures for select graduates when entering or leaving the country.

 

As part of the Chinese government's plans to develop chosen regions, returning graduates will be encouraged to seek opportunities in the west or to help breathe new life into China's northeast traditional industry bases.

 

China will also gain materially from the returning graduates since these will be expected to become industry leaders in developing more advanced foreign technologies or funding and establishing high-tech enterprises.

 

For those planning to stay awhile abroad, incentives will be given for them to set up cooperation avenues with domestic partners in China.

 

A total of 1.07 million Chinese students have studied abroad but only 275,000 have returned to China after graduation. Last year, 42,000 graduates returned, up 21.3 percent over 2005.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2007)