China lifts restrictions on graduates to stem brain drain

China lifts restrictions on graduates to stem brain drain

Beijing, Mar 30 (PTI) In an effort to stem brain drain, the Chinese government has announced that its nationals studying abroad would enjoy special privileges if they return to their motherland after graduation.

The graduates will be qualified to work without residency restrictions, personnel quotas and pay limits, a joint decision made by the ministries of personnel and education said here.

China maintains a residency control policy in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, limiting incoming migrants looking for work.

Graduates in high-level professions who are willing to return willbe able to live and work freely, it said.

The document says the Personnel Ministry will, with other ministries, provide special funds to attract graduates with urgently needed skills.

High-level graduates will have simplified procedures at border entry and exit points.

The graduates are encouraged to explore opportunities in the country's west and to help revive the northeast traditional industry bases.

The two ministries also expect returned graduates to introduce more advanced foreign technologies and to fund and establish more high-tech enterprises as the country graduated from low-end manufacturing to hi-tech fields.

Students unable to return imminently will be encouraged to undertake research cooperation with domestic partners.

A total of 1.07 million Chinese students have studied abroad, including self-financed and state-financed, but just 275,000 returned to China after graduation. Last year, 42,000 came back, 21.3 per cent upfrom the number in 2005 as working and living conditions steadily improved.