Warm return

Dalian has issued new policies in a bid to attract overseas Chinese scholars to set up hi-tech enterprises in the coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning province.

The "Overseas Chinese Scholars Project" is inviting 10 world-class talents annually for the next five years, Dai Yulin, vice-mayor of Dalian, said recently at the 2008 Overseas Chinese Scholars Liaoning (Dalian) Conference (CHINAOCS).

"They can enjoy preferential supportive policies in salaries, workplaces, and accommoodation. The government will offer 2 million yuan to launch each new enterprise and a further two million yuan as an investment. If a loan is needed, the government can also provide a capital guarantee for an extra two million yuan," said Dai.

"Dalian is at the forefront of Chinese cities in providing preferential policies and services for returned scholars," says Luan Chengjie, deputy director of the Personnel Bureau of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China's.

Luan adds that he's certain that the policies will lure increasing numbers of other talented entrepreneurs back to China.

Wu Huaqiang, president of the California-based Silicon Valley Tsinghua Network, says he was impressed by the policies during a conversation with the city's decision-makers.

Wu says many overseas Chinese started up businesses in northern California's Silicon Valley. "However, there is no doubt that more people will choose to return to China," he says.

Also planning to pursue his dreams back in China, Wu says potential returnees need more support from the government to quell their hesitation.

Dalian Mayor Xia Deren told CHINAOCS participants that the city is dedicated to creating a relaxed environment for the returnees to encourage competition and inspire innovation.

"We hope Dalian can provide an entrepreneurial environment as creative and rich as that of Silicon Valley," he said.

"The returnees have contributed a lot to the development of our city," said the mayor, "But we need far more talent in order to reach our goal of building Dalian into a new champion city in software and service outsourcing, a major Asian integrated circuit industrial base, an international competitive manufacturing base, and an important shipping center in northeast Asia."

More than 600 overseas Chinese scholars were invited to the conference.

The scholars signed 202 contracts with companies and scientific research institutes of Liaoning province at the conference.

launched in 2000, the CHINAOCS conference has attracted more than 7,000 attendees in the past eight years. More than 500 projects by the returnees have created a total output value in excess of 20 billion yuan.

The city's park for the returned overseas students has accommodated over 1,000 returnees, most of whom are engaged in hi-tech research and development.

Liu Shibing, who graduated from Peking University in 1999, and then studied in the United States and worked in Japan, established a company in Dalian three years ago with two partners who are also returnees.

Their company, Dalian Changer Solution Technology Co Ltd, has grown into a recognized self-owned software provider.

(China Daily 10/13/2008 page10)