Ningbo, Zhoushan co-establish talent pool

Ningbo and Zhoushan, two cities in East China's Zhejiang province, plan to launch a unified high-profile talent pool online on Sept 18 during the 2020 Ningbo Talent, Science and Technology Week.

The move is meant to allow the two cities to jointly manage their high-end human resources, which is part of their long-term strategy for integrated development.

A total of 14,000 experts in the two cities have been included in the aforementioned talent pool and will be granted certain perks by demonstrating their membership through mobile apps. Benefits will include free entry into designated tourism spots and sports gyms as well as discounts on designated hotels in the two cities.

"These measures make me feel respected by both cities," Sun Jincai, a member of the talent pool, told reporters in a recent interview. Sun is currently working in Ningbo as a professor at Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College and senior engineer at Haitong Food Group.

Sun plans to visit his alma mater, Zhejiang Ocean University, in Zhoushan soon and enjoy the city for a couple of days. "I will be able to tour scenic areas free of charge and check into hotels at a discount by showing my electronic ID on my cellphone," Sun said.

More than 50 business sites in Ningbo and Zhoushan, including scenic areas, hotels, and sports gyms, have joined the benefits program for the high-profile talent pool. They include Tianyige Museum, Xiangshan Global Studios, and the Ningbo Swimming and Fitness Center in Ningbo, as well as Nansha Beach on Zhujiajian Island and Putuo Mountain Scenic Area in Zhoushan.

Ningbo and Zhoushan also plan to introduce a series of transportation benefits targeting the talent pool in the near future. Qualified experts in both cities will have access to green channel services at the Ningbo Lishe International Airport and at the Putuo Mountain Scenic Area. They will be able to use Ningbo's public transit system at a discount.

Ningbo and Zhoushan are also working to strengthen bilateral cooperation in training professionals in the education, healthcare, and industrial sectors, developing research institutions, and recruiting young experts. The increased mobility of talent is expected to contribute to the high-quality development of both cities.