Beijing hi-tech hub rolls out plan to draw foreign talent

BEIJING - An industry association in Beijing's hi-tech heartland Zhongguancun has launched a project to create more job opportunities for international students studying in China.

"Cirrus Project"- Job Search (CPJS), launched by Zhongguancun the Belt and Road Industry Promotion Association (ZBRA), aims to attract foreign talent by offering internships and training with enterprises at Zhongguancun, said Zhang Xiaodong, director of ZBRA.

The association was founded by high-tech firms, research institutes and entrepreneurs in Zhongguancun park. It aims to push for international cooperation for companies in the park.

Under the CPJS, foreign students can seek internship opportunities with companies at Zhongguancun through outreach programs at university. Students with a good internship report will also be rewarded, said Zhang.

Now the CPJS has established contact with universities including the University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology and Renmin University of China.

"This is my first time attending such programs," said Jeun Yeong, a South Korean student studying Japanese in Renmin University. He attended a CPJS job affair in his university on Friday.

"I will graduate in a year, and I hope my Chinese, Japanese and Korean skills can help me find a good job here," Jeun said.

There are more than 7,000 high-tech companies in Zhongguancun Haidian science park, said Huang Ying, deputy director of the park, "Many are in urgent need of international talent for their overseas expansion."

The CPJS aims to reach more than 10,000 international students in five years and help more than 1,000 students establish close contact with local companies.

In January, China dropped the work experience requirement for foreign postgraduates and allows foreign students with a postgraduate degree or higher from Chinese universities to be employed within a year after graduation.