The Chinese government unveiled a new policy today to encourage its
large number of students studying abroad to work for their
motherland in various ways.
The policy was released in the Decisions on Encouraging Students
Overseas to Serve the Motherland in Various Forms by Ministries
of Personnel, Education, Science and Technology, Public Security
and Finance.
It
is China's first systematic regulation on overseas students'
rewards, intellectual property rights protection, leaving and
entering China, and agent services for talents.
"The policy provides a more convenient and attractive environment
for students studying abroad to serve their motherland, " Liu
Baoying, a senior official of the Ministry of Personnel told
Xinhua.
Overseas students deserve recognition and rewards in conformity
with international practice for what they have done for the
country, the policy says.
They can exchange their taxed income for foreign currencies and
remittance abroad, according to the new policy.
For their convenient exit and entry, China has also promised to
grant necessary credentials and visas, while providing financial
support for projects of promising market potential.
Though China has always attached great importance to students
overseas, the notion that they can only serve the country by
settling down in the mainland is deeply rooted among many
people.
However, the new policy is meant to end the thinking that only
those students who return to China are patriotic.
"They will win respect, encouragement and rewards by the government
for their contributions to China, whether they live at home or
abroad," the policy states.
Since China's reform and opening up in 1978 when students began to
be permitted to study outside the country, some 130,000 Chinese
overseas students have returned while some 250,000 have remained
abroad.
According to the policy, students can serve the motherland via
part-time jobs, cooperation in research, investment and founding
new companies, human resources training and acting as intermediates
without having to live on the mainland.
"It's a breakthrough in China's personnel managing system and its
concept of talents," said Wang Enyong, a professor at the Peking
University specializing in human resources managing research.
This is also a remarkable step signaling that the country wants to
attract more professionals familiar with the international rules
related to the economic globalization in preparation for the
country's entry to the World Trade Organization, he added.
(Xinhua News
Agency 08/19/2001)