BEIJING - In a bid to meet China's huge demand for top-notch personnel, the country has launched 12 major programs for recruiting talents and experts working in various fields at home and abroad.

The programs are set to attract talents both at home and abroad to work in a variety of fields, including enterprise operation and management, healthcare, modern agriculture and culture, according to the personnel management office under the Organizing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Thursday.

These recruitment programs were all contained in the country's National Medium and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020) unveiled in June. The plan is a guideline for creating a highly skilled national workforce in China by 2020.

The move is also expected to nurture more talents for the enrichment of China's team of innovators and cultural elites, and increase personnel reserves able to serve in remote, less-developed areas and community-level organs.

Among the 12 programs, the 1,000 Plan, or the Recruitment Program of Global Experts, was initiated in 2008. It is a special plan aiming to recruit overseas "innovative" talents, and especially targets overseas Chinese studying abroad and encourages them to return to work for their homeland.

As of August, 1,510 top-level scientists and professionals have worked in China through the 1,000 Plan, according to statistics from the office.

Under the plan, the government will work out favorable policies in terms of taxation, insurance, housing, children and spouse settlement and research projects.

The government will also give one-time cash awards of up to 500,000 yuan (about $78,800) to some young overseas talents, in addition to offering them scientific research funds of 1 million to 3 million yuan within three years.