According to the program, China will make greater efforts to develop its human resources, training and introducing more skilled people to meet its growing demand for a range of professionals, including those working as public servants, corporate managerial personnel, and technological specialists.

Efforts are to be made to set up incentive mechanisms for professionals working for government departments and institutions and state-owned enterprises, according to the program.

The government will help more professionals move into the tertiary sector, encourage the flow of professionals from big cities to small and medium-sized ones, and from the east of the country to the west, it said.

Many well-educated people in China prefer to work for government departments and in big cities.

China's entry into the World Trade Organization has increased its demand for skilled professionals.

Many sectors in China, including banking, insurance and securities, are short of professionals as they are trying to compete with their overseas counterparts on the Chinese and overseas markets.

(China Daily June 11, 2002)