Five ministries have joined together to entice Chinese workers and
students abroad to return to their homeland, promising them similar
career opportunities.
Domestic units and agencies have been authorized to turn over their
research and development projects to the returning workers at
universities, research institutions and enterprises.
The returning workers could also do scientific research in
conjunction with their domestic counterparts. They could complete
such projects either at home or abroad.
The new policies were signed by the ministries that oversee affairs
in personnel; education; science and technology development; public
security; and finance.
The policies encourage the returning talents to help train
professionals who remained here.
The returning workers' intellectual property rights (IPR) like
copyrights and patents would be guaranteed by participating in
distributions with their IPR as shareholdings and by sharing
research achievements with their domestic partners.
To
help China's west development strategy, the government promised to
finance technological introduction, scientific inspections and
consultation services by the returned.
The talents could also register intermediary agencies with
authorities to introduce investment, technologies and projects into
China. Such agencies could be set up abroad so they could seek
overseas markets for homemade projects.
Since 1978, more than 280,000 Chinese have rushed to foreign
countries to study or work. The exodus continued over the last two
decades.
But so far, more than 130,000 have returned, according to the
latest official statistics.
Chinese workers abroad have been called home in the past, but the
latest policies go farther by promising similar jobs for them when
they return and preferential treatment, including better salaries
and free entry to and from China.
Officials for the ministry of personnel also promise to help find
jobs and schools for the returned workers' spouses and
children.
(China Daily 08/20/2001)