Expert calls for international talent policy overhaul

File photo of Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, China's largest independent think tank. [Zou Hong/China Daily]

Editor's note: With increased participation in global governance, China now has an urgent need for international talent, as Dr Wang Huiyao tells us here in a Q&A with China Daily website.

Dr Wang is the president of the Center for China and Globalization and a counselor to the State Council who focuses on researching China's international talent policy.

Q: As an expert on China's international talent policy, what are the priorities authorities should focus on right now?

A: To set up a comprehensive international talent agency is urgently needed right now under the direction of a more widely-open and inclusive strategy.

Now facing the tremendous economic transition of global governance, China, as one of the strongest advocates of new global co-operation, it is imperative that it woos more talents abroad to meet the talent requirements of promoting or leading multi-national organizations or initiatives like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, G20 or One Belt One Road.

The alien population ratio is now about four out of 10,000 in China which is far below from the world average of 300 out of 10,000, while the figure in India is 15 times more than in China.

For a long period, graduates who study abroad and overseas Chinese have been targeted as the resource of international talent for China. Do you think this trend will change in the future?

A: Yes, this trend will definitely change and it ought to meet China's diverse demand for alien talent to help engage in world affairs more deeply and widely over time. The non-ethnic Chinese group will play a more important role in China's human resource bank in the future.

Q: How can China overcome the obstacles to introducing more foreign talent into government agencies, enterprises and think tanks?

A: Chinese government organs and think tanks should actively send more staff to cross-border organizations as interns or temporary workers in order to strengthen our international governance abilities and uphold our interests during the formation of new global rules. Meanwhile, more intelligent foreigners like those overseas Chinese and professionals should be encouraged to work for the Chinese public bureaus and non-government organizations like think tanks.