The regular Shanghai Municipal government press conference at 14:30 on November 30, 2005 (Wednesday) will invite Mr. Mao Dali, Vice-Director with the Shanghai Personnel Bureau, to the chat-room of Eastday to answer reporters' questions on returned overseas students via the Internet. Your questions are welcomed.

Host: Besides traditional ways such as creating their own businesses or joining the commercial, scientific research and educational industries, Chinese people studying overseas have various ways in which to contribute to their homeland. The original policies enacted by Shanghai to encourage returned students to work in the city are no longer equal to the task. Therefore, the Shanghai Personnel Bureau has adjusted and improved the original policies and drafted new regulations on encouraging returned overseas students to work and create their own businesses in Shanghai.

Host: Welcome to all the reporters here for the regular government press conference. Today, we have released several newly-approved regulations on encouraging returned overseas students to work and create their businesses in Shanghai, and all of you must see our news release. We have invited Mr. Mao Dali, Vice-Director with the Shanghai Personnel Bureau, to answer your questions via the Internet. Now our press conference officially starts.

Mao Dali: Hello, everybody! I am glad to communicate with you all, on the new regulations, via the Internet this afternoon. The work relating to returnees from studying abroad is an important part of Shanghai's strategy to rejuvenate the market through science and education and also strengthen the city by developing human resources. With the goal of building-up the city into a metropolis and an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center, we need a team of talented individuals proficient in international best-practice, advanced global and technological knowledge and also with a global perspective. The city's development also proves that our returned students have played an important role and contributed to local economic and social development. I'd like to answer the questions that concern you! You all know that since we implemented a program to attract 10,000 domestic students studying overseas, many from the US, Europe, Japan and Australia have returned to Shanghai. We sincerely expect all the scholars and returned students from all over the world to come to Shanghai by all means possible, to contribute to their homeland and Shanghai.

1. Micle：Does Shanghai really welcome scholars who are working in the USA or Europe?
2. Fangfang: Hello, I'm Wang Qifang of the Metro Express. Would you like to give us some background information about the new regulations? How many returned overseas scholars are now in Shanghai?

Mao Dali: Currently, the city's talent policy focuses on attracting overseas scholars. This internationalizes the city's talent pool development and works towards the objective of building Shanghai into a modern socialist metropolis, as well as assisting us in the fierce international competition for talent. It's in line with the central government's policy to maintain coordinated overall development. Since the start of the opening-up and reform policy, Shanghai has sent more than 120,000 people to study overseas, about one-sixth of the national total. There are over 56,000 returned scholars working and starting up their own businesses in Shanghai now, accounting for about one-third of the national total.

3. Jiefang Daily: Hello, I'm a reporter with the Jiefang Daily. The new regulation refers to a special fund to be created by the government for high-level returnees who come to the city to start up businesses, work or lecture for a short period of time. The government will generate the funds through various channels. How much is the fund for each year, and how do people apply?

Mao Dali: We started a project called the Pujiang talent plan in 2005, aimed at assisting the returned scholars in their start-up businesses. The Shanghai Personnel Bureau and the Shanghai Science Commission have jointly provided 40 million yuan to 201 returned scholars so far. The fund benefits scientific research, private start-ups, social science and certain kinds of talent which we are in urgent need of in Shanghai. We'll go on with this financing in future, publishing the application information and guidelines each year.

4 Rachel: Hello, I'm a reporter with the Shanghai Daily. I'd like to know whether a returned scholar can apply for the public service examinations if he or she has been granted foreign nationality?

Mao Dali: State rules bans such practice.

5. Youth Daily: Hello, I'm Tang Qilin with the Youth Daily. I've two questions. Firstly, are there any regulations about restrictions on applicants with foreign nationality? Secondly, returned scholars with foreign nationality have the right to apply for social security benefits if they work or start up their own business here, will the social security benefits open to them include medical insurance? Will they enjoy exactly the same rights as local residents?

Mao Dali: They can apply for social security benefits and enjoy their legitimate rights, including medical insurance, after they have received temporary residence certificates.

6. SHQB: I'm a reporter from the Shanghai Overseas Chinese News newspaper.  The host said this new regulation is a redraft and improvement on the original one.  Therefore, in what respect has the new regulation been improved and what are the new solutions and measures? Thankyou.

Mao Dali: It has been improved in many respects, including:
* We will provide a one-stop service for the returned overseas Chinese;
* We will lower admission requirements for the children of returnees if they apply to enter a local high school;
* We will give priority in job recruitment to the spouses of returnees when their qualifications are equal to those of other candidates;
* We have clearly defined the responsibilities and tasks of the various types of business park where the returnees locate their businesses.

7. XWWB:  Hello, Director Mao.  I'm a reporter from the News Times newspaper.  My question is whether those already here are covered by the new preferential policies?

Mao Dali: Yes. Those already here are also subject to the new regulation.

8. Shanghai Daily: Another question. How does your bureau ensure the effective implementation of the new measures?  Though similar polices were already enacted, there are returned Chinese who complain that their children still do not enjoy equal treatment with local students at some schools. So, if they encounter such a situation in the future, where can they take their complaints?

Mao Dali: People can turn to the Shanghai Overseas Talent Service Center for policies concerning returnees. The address is Floor 5, No. 660, Shangcheng Road, Pudong.  For complaints, they can turn to the employment division for overseas returnees of the Shanghai Personnel Bureau.  The address is Room 308, No. 123, Damuqiao Road.

9. Dididada: Hello, I'm a reporter from the China Business News newspaper.  Can you give an introduction to Shanghai's existing entrepreneur parks?  How many enterprises operated by returnees have located there, and what are the sizes and output values of the companies?  Is the role played by returnees meeting your expections?

Mao Dali: There are 10 entrepreneur parks for returnees in Shanghai, such as those in Pudong's Zhangjiang and Jiading, with over 3,100 enterprises and a total investment of over US$440 million.  The parks are expected to play a role in advancing Shanghai's high-technology industries as well as in increasing the city's creativity.

10. Angel: Hello, Director Mao. I'm a reporter from the Global Times newspaper.  What interests me is that Shanghai's policies to attract overseas Chinese are going through various phases.  What do you think underlies the enactment of the new regulation and what is the significance of the changes?

Mao Dali: Shanghai initiated the policy to attract overseas Chinese to work here as early as 1992.  With the continuous improvement of the market-oriented socialist economy, more and more overseas Chinese are returning to work here or start new businesses.  Accordingly, Shanghai must update its policies in this respect to better suit their needs.

11. Mermaid: Where on the Internet can we find details of the relevant policy?

Mao Dali: You may refer to the official personnel web site: www.21cnhr.gov.cn.

12. Leon: Good afternoon, Director Mao.  I am a returned overseas Chinese. I was born in Shanghai, and now I am living here.  I have acquired a Shanghai Residence Card, whose number begins with an 'L', issued by the Shanghai Personnel Bureau.  I prefer to own a private business than to work for someone else.  I'd like to know if returnees can open domestic joint-venture enterprises by buying patented technology or by investing?

Mao Dali: The returned overseas Chinese in the city can establish Sino-foreign joint-ventures or partnerships.

13. Shanghai Daily: How will the Shanghai Personnel Bureau ensure the regulation is implemented in an effective way?  We have had similar policies in the past, and there were complaints of unequal treatment of the children of returnees and their local counterparts. If this happens again, who can the returnees turn to for help or to register complaints?

Mao Dali: The new regulation will be implemented as of January 1, 2006.  To ensure its smooth and effective implementation, we are liaising with the relevant municipal departments on the formulation of detailed operational rules.

14. DONGZAO: Good afternoon, Director Mao. I am from the Oriental Morning Post.  The scheme, launched by the city in 2003, to attract 10,000 overseas Chinese to work in the city over the following two or three years, saw a successful conclusion.  Does the city have any other new plans to attract more highly-skilled overseas Chinese?

Mao Dali: Yes, it's been a big success and will end soon. The new plan follows-on from the scheme and aims to provide a long-term perspective, a database of jobs and of potential returnees, an effective operational method of providing job opportunities, a friendly local environment for the returnees to start a career here and a mechanism to encourage their long-term career development.

15. China Youth Daily: Good afternoon, I am from the China Youth Daily.  Besides the above information, the new regulation has also paid full attention to the group characteristics of the people who used to study abroad.  Can you give us an introduction to the educational effects of the regulation on political and moral outlook of the returnees? Thank you.

Mao Dali: First of all, the government will be fully concerned with their political growth, listening attentively to their voices.  The organizations at all levels of the Communist Party, the associations of the returnees and the entrepreneur parks will create forums for them to contribute their ideas.  Secondly, the returnees are expected to care for the whole of society and actively participate in the construction of the city.  Last but not least, they are sincerely encouraged to join in local political life.

16. DONGZAO: Hello, director Mao. I am a reporter with the Oriental Morning Post. I'd like to know the criteria which returned overseas students need to fulfill so as to receive funding from the Pujiang Program.

Mao Dali: Applicants for the Pujiang Program should have their identity as overseas students verified. Generally speaking, the applicants should be overseas students who returned within the last two years. You can find relevant government policies on the Shanghai 21st-Century Specialist Website (http://www.21cnhr.gov.cn).

17. China Youth Daily: Hello, I'm a China Youth Daily reporter. I hear that the new regulations on encouraging returned overseas students to work and start businesses in Shanghai takes into account their character, and seeks to provide them with more political and moral education. Could you tell us about this? Thank you.

Mao Dali: Firstly, favorable circumstances are created to assist returnees with their personal development. Organizations like the CPC (Communist Party of China) committees at all levels, the returned overseas students' association and the business parks set aside for them to start businesses will listen to their opinions and help them to become more politically mature. Secondly, returned overseas students should think of others, pay close attention to the city's development and contribute to social development. Thirdly, representatives will be selected from among them to participate in government decision-making and to comment on government policies.

18. Angel: My name is Yi Jinyuan and I work for the Global Times. Could you elaborate on the concept of "highly skilled overseas students" as mentioned in the new regulation on encouraging returned overseas students to work and start businesses in Shanghai? 

Mao Dali: Considering Shanghai's development goals, neither the quality nor quantity of returned overseas Chinese can satisfy the city's needs. More of them are needed. All those with genuine ability and learning are welcome to join us. The city is in urgent need of specialists in advanced manufacturing industries (e.g. automotive and communications industries) and in the service sector (e.g. finance, exhibition and logistics industries).
The new regulation contains eight articles defining the concept of "highly skilled overseas students". You can find them on the official website of Shanghai Municipality (www.shanghai.gov.cn).
Dear reporters and netizens, thank you all for your support and care for the city's campaign to attract overseas Chinese. As ever, the Shanghai Personnel Bureau will try its best to attract overseas Chinese to return to the city and offer them every support and encouragement.

Host: Since time is limited, today's press conference is over. Thank you for joining the discussion, and thanks to director Mao for his detailed explanations.