US Baby Boomers Provide Talent Pool for China

China.org.cn

"China is still a fascinating country for many in the U.S. despite its issues like pollution," said American diplomat Thomas Miller, who now serves as president/CEO of International Executive Service Corps (IESC). "As for global talent competition, I think that newly retired Americans, which we call U.S. baby boomers, are a tremendous source of talent for China in its search for global professionals."

Miller made the remarks at the Shenzhen Forum on the sidelines of the 12th International Conference of Professionals, which opened yesterday. 

He said U.S. baby boomers are starting to retire and the U.S. now has 76 million retirees, many of whom used to work in American key sectors, are highly talented and could generate business productivity. "They could live 20 years longer than their parents' generation due to improved conditions and as they put more value on their self-worth, they are willing to explore their value after retirement in a country like China with huge opportunities."

A year or so working in China would be ideal for them, as it is very difficult for them to stay in China for a long time, with family in the U.S, Miller said. China should also improve its services and policy to attract global talents. 

Wang Huirao, director general of the Center for China and Globalization and vice chairman of China Western Returned Scholars Association, also said that China should improve its policy support, work permit system, public services and subsidies, to increase the number of foreign experts working in China and encourage more overseas Chinese students to return home, in the face of fierce global competition for talent. 

"The 2010 population census indicated that the foreigners working in Beijing and Shanghai accounted for 0.4 and 0.5 percent of the total population of the cities, while the figures for Hong Kong and New York ran as high as 8 and 40 percent, Wang said. 

More special zones for global talent should be established in China for key innovative industries where foreign and Chinese experts could benefit from less complex bureaucratic procedures in their work and lives. 

Nearly 30 guest speakers from China and around the world were invited to attend the Shenzhen Forum including Vice President Andrzej Gorski of the Poland Academy of Sciences, Robin Wales, mayor of Newham in the UK and Deputy Mayor Tang Jie of Shenzhen.