CCG Report Calls for More Open, Inclusive Policies to Attract International Talent

The US government is currently tightening immigration policies, including the recent ban on the immigrants from Muslim countries that will keep a large number of high-level international talent outside the country. However, America’s loss of talent could offer China an opportunity to gain. Therefore, CCG has released a new report on Feb. 22 calling on the Chinese government to formulate more open, inclusive and flexible immigration policies to capitalize on the opportunity and attract international talent to China.

Since 2015, China has taken multiple measures to loosen the restriction on the entry of foreign talent, starting from major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian and Guangdong. The central government issued guidance in February that emphasizes the need to further reform the immigration policies to make it serve national talent development strategies.

According to CCG President Wang Huiyao, the report was based on long-term tracking studies of Chinese and American talent development policies, and includes 10 suggestions on how to establish a more effective system to attract international talent and increase global competitiveness.

Wang shed light on the current US tightening immigration policies and their impact, especially the ban on the immigrants from Muslim countries that will keep a large number of high-level international talent outside the country. However, America’s loss of talent could offer China an opportunity to gain. Therefore, it is important that China seizes the timing and roll out new policies to capitalize on this opportunity.

Currently, China’s “Green Card” policy is still faulted with the problems including overstrict requirement on application, lack of regulation and supervision, and insufficient service providers. The CCG report raises 10 suggestions in eight aspects to address those problems.

■ Further loosening restriction on the application for permanent residence permit

■ Removing the requirement that foreigners have to live in China for a certain length of period before they are allowed to apply for permanent residence permit.

■ Establishing a system to allow foreigners with green card to obtain Chinese citizenship while keeping their original citizenship.

■ Easing the restrictions on international students interning and working in China.

■ Expanding work permit issuance to international students, not only those with postgraduate degrees but also those with sufficient work experience or special skills.

■ Establishing an overseas Chinese identification system in China to allow those that own postgraduate degrees and have been working in China for a certain period to obtain permanent residence permit.

■ Establishing a social security system for foreign talent in align with international practice.

■ Formulating the immigration law to improve legal framework for talent introduction and management

■ Forming an immigration bureau to optimize immigrant management and services.

■ Enhance international talent recruitment policy promotion to remove misperception and increase China’s attractiveness to foreign talent.

Commenting on the report, CCG senior research fellow and State Council Councelor Hu Bengang said that the introduction of more advanced and skillful international talent can help Chinese companies improve their capabilities engaging foreign business to establish cooperation and exchange. More policies are required to streamline the procedure of permanent residence permit and work permit application and improve services. In the meantime, it is also necessary to form a long-effective mechanism to not just attract but also leverage international talent.

Chen Quansheng, another CCG senior research fellow and State Council counselor pointed out the need to attract talent not just from developed countries but also developing countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. Beside a more open and inclusive talent recruitment, he also called to establish the immigration bureau and more market facilities such as headhunting firms.

Former Inspector of CCCPC’s Organization Department Hu Jianhua agreed that an immigration law and an immigration bureau are both needed to institutionalize the international talent recruitment efforts. Besides, China should strike a balance between easing restrictions and strengthening management to ensure the smooth implementation of talent development policies.

CCG senior research fellow Huang Wenzheng reviewed the current situation of the world immigration and immigration policies in China and some foreign countries. He suggested that China should revise the legal definition of “Chinese citizens” to include overseas Chinese and naturalized Chinese.

Gao Yanding, founder of Yanding US-China Education, believes that if Trump administration issues any policy against Chinese students in the United States, the parents will be discouraged to send their children to study in America, which is conducive to China’s effort to retain home-grown talent. He advised to improve the policies to allow foreigners’ children to study in public schools, where they can receive better language education and integrate with Chinese student community well.