China to encourage more foreign talent by improving services

China is implementing new measures aimed at attracting more top foreign talent.

The Chinese government is committed to improving services related to expatriates in order to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in the country. According to Director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Zhang Jianguo, China has been placing unprecedented importance on the attraction of foreign talent for the past six years, with even more effective, positive and open measures being planned to attract the brightest and the best from across the world. Last month, the Administration completed its merger with the Ministry of Science and Technology in order to improve its recruitment systems, optimise expat-related services and expand platforms.

The state is concentrating on experts in fields such as satellite communications, high-speed rail projects and nuclear energy, with cross-border talent exchanges proven to be of great benefit to the current projects. China’s tech development already has well-planned national support and major domestic investment and, although it doesn’t have many permanently resident expat experts as yet, its global collaboration with institutes and universities across the world has resulted in a robust network of top talent.

International engine manufacturer Cummins’ vice-president Steven Chapman believes China will soon gain world influence in a number of scientific sectors, and is impressed with Chinese integrity as well as the state's determination to attract top expatriate experts. He adds the attitude towards foreigners in China has improved beyond all measure over the past several decades. Medical professor at Tsinghua-Berkeley-Shenzhen Institute Peter Lobie agrees, but believes China could still do more as regards helping foreign professionals settle into its drastically different culture. He’s been working on and off in China for over 10 years, but has now decided to settle there permanently.