'Scattered rules' hindering global search for talent

Lagging legislation and poor implementation of scattered immigration policies has slowed China's efforts to recruit foreign talent, experts said.

There is no dedicated immigration law in China even though the government in recent years has made a priority of using talent from abroad to facilitate its social and economic development.

The central government launched the One Thousand Foreign Experts Project to recruit top-notch foreign experts in 2008, aiming to invite 500 to 1,000 high-end, non-Chinese foreign specialists from other countries to work in China in 10 years. Overseas professionals recruited by the programs are granted financial subsidies, favorable policies in terms of visa applications, tax deductions, residences, medical care and insurance policies.