Prominent economist Professor Li Daokui has been appointed to a top position in the mainland's 'Silicon Valley', a move viewed as part of the government's efforts to encourage top overseas-educated talent to return home.
The Harvard-educated scholar has been appointed deputy director of Beijing's Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, home to many of China's leading hi-tech firms and top higher education and research institutions, including Tsinghua University and Peking University, China News Service reported.
Beijing's municipal government has taken a lead in the talent drive by recruiting top academics and scientists, including from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, into the ranks of its officials.
Last year, the central government released a blueprint for talent development for the next 10 years.
Among other objectives, The National Medium- and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-20) includes the aim of attracting talented students who have studied abroad back home.
The central government has assigned Zhongguancun the task of pioneering the national programme, with the leadership recognising that overseas educated talent is of vital importance to the mainland's development.
Since the mainland began opening up in the late 1970s, nearly two million youngsters have gone overseas to continue their education, with most going to developed countries, particularly the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia.
