Plan Lures Overseas Chinese

Dr Wang Jinxian, a high-tech expert who was schooled in Australia, is among the first of 13 Chinese nationals to return to his home country to work under a new programme in Guangzhou of South China's Guangdong.

Wang, who received 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) from the Gunagzhou municipal government, will establish a high-tech enterprise. The others, who also studied abroad, will return to either set up or invest in high and new technology enterprises involving information technology, bio-engineering and medical science, technology of new materials, and resources and environmental protection technology.

Under the new programme, the city provides 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) to each person who returns to China to start up or invest in special enterprises in the city.

"The fund is for returning people who have finished their schooling abroad and now want to take part in high-tech enterprises in the city," said Lin Yuanhe, vice-mayor of Guangzhou.

According to the senior official, the municipal government will earmark 60 million yuan (US$7.23 million) in the coming three years, 20 million yuan (US$2.41 million) each year, to support programme participants in their initial stage of business in Guangzhou.

The fund is just one of the municipal government's programmes to encourage the return of overseas Chinese to Guangzhou.

Other programmes include funds for an improved working and living environment,favourable treatments for access to the city's venture capital, permanent residency settlement in Guangzhou, scholarly title recognition and authorization, and schooling for children.

In the past few years, Guangzhou has made concerted efforts to lure Chinese experts who have studied abroad.

The city, with the Ministry of Personnel, has held two sessions of the scientific and technological exchange fair for Chinese students studying abroad.

And the municipal government has founded an innovative park, a service center, and several high and new technology incubation bases for the returnees.



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