2008 was a most extraordinary year for China. In 2008, SAFEA conscientiously implemented the guiding principles of the 17th CPC National Congress and unswervingly applied the Scientific Outlook on Development on our daily work. Taking as its driving forces the commemorations of the 25th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s important remarks on overseas expertise introduction (OEI in brief)and the 30th anniversary of China’s launch of its reform and opening-up policy, SAFEA has made great progress in serving China’s quest for scientific development through OEI. Major achievements have been made last year. The total of overseas experts recruited to work in China in 2008 reached 480,000 person/time. Over 30,000 Chinese professionals were sent abroad for training. 50 outstanding foreign experts were awarded Friendship Award by Chinese government, raising the total number of Friendship Award recipients to 999. SAFEA newly certified 29 overseas experts organizations and overseas training institutions. 399 institutions have been certified qualifications to conduct international personnel exchanges activities.
Bringing the role of OEI into full play in providing services for major national events. When Chinese people combated the severe snowstorm early last year and the devastating May 12 Wenchuan earthquake, SAFEA promptly gave guidance to provincial and local foreign experts bureaus to take effective measures to ensure the safety of all overseas experts working in disaster areas, while timely collecting and forwarding constructive advices on disaster-relief of the overseas experts to relevant government departments, recommending overseas experts specialized on post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, jointly carrying out several overseas training programs on post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction in Japan. SAFEA took as a key task the providing of services for the Beijing Olympic Games, including supporting relevant parties to introduce groups of athletic coaches and venue construction specialists, and organizing related overseas training programs, thus making its due contributions to the success of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Making breakthroughs in introducing high-level and urgently needed personnel from abroad. A range of high-level and urgently needed overseas professionals were brought in through projects such as Programs Supporting Major Scientific Research Institutions to Expand International Cooperation, the International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams, Expertise-Introduction Project for Disciplines Innovation in Universities (the 111 Project), and the Project for Introducing Eminent Teachers from Overseas. The successful hosting of the 2008 Conference on International Exchange of Professionals and the participation in the Fifth High-end Personnel Exchange and Technology Project Fair in Shandong province have also helped build up an effective platform for introducing high-level and urgently needed overseas professionals.
Achieving better results on overseas training programs by putting more emphasis on quality and effectiveness. SAFEA spares no efforts in fostering national human resources development by focusing on training of government officials, managerial personnel in industries, team leaders in scientific and technological innovation, the highly skilled in industry and agriculture, as well as professionals urgently needed in national key projects. At the same time, SAFEA has strengthened its overall supervision and management over training programs abroad, to ensure continuing improvement in their quality, particularly in key projects, leading to better results.
Promoting expertise sharing through educational and popularizing activities. SAFEA gives priority to the introduction and application of new technologies and new varieties of agricultural produce, strives to promote the industrialization and the popularization of those technologies or varieties with high productivity, high added-value and market potential. OEI achievements resources have been made more available all over the country through popularization programs. SAFEA pays much attention to building up OEI demonstration sites for popularizing advanced agricultural development pattern such as One Village One Product (OVOP) Project. SAFEA successfully conducted Thousand Demonstration Villages Pilot Program in 10 provinces.
Putting people first and achieving new progress in OEI administrative innovation. Innovation approaches have been taken to improve OEI mechanism. Cooperative mechanism has been established between SAFEA and various provincial governments, or departments of the central government. A series of cooperative agreements have been signed between SAFEA and governments of Xinjiang Uygur, Guangxi Zhuang and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions, as well as Hubei Province respectively. Cooperative agreements on training public servants and professionals have been signed between SAFEA and governments of Qinghai Province and Inner Mongolia. SAFEA has continued to strengthen its cooperation with related central government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology. SAFEA has provided differentiated guidance for OEI in a more thorough-going way, to ensure that OEI is better targeted and yields more substantive results. SAFEA has formulated Administrative Measures for Foreign Experts’ Employment Contracts, and improved related policies, laws and regulations, while constantly enhancing its OEI administration and public service capacity.
The year 2009 will be a critical year for maintaining the steady and rapid development of China’s domestic economy, and for achieving greater social stability and harmony through implementing the strategies and policies set out at the 17th CPC National Congress, while dealing with the international financial crisis through proactive approaches. SAFEA will continue to thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, with OEI centering on the task of developing the national economy, and proceed to serve overall public interests. SAFEA will work hard to introduce more advanced technologies and high-level talents, and keep an eye on improving the quality and effectiveness of overseas training programs for better results. SAFEA will energetically provide strong support in terms of overseas expertise and talents to contribute to the growth of the national economy, people’s livelihoods and the country’s stability, pay tribute with our remarkable achievements to the 60th anniversary of New China.
I would like to extend my highest respect and wholehearted gratitude to all the friends in and outside China who have given so much dedication and support to SAFEA! It is my sincere hope to further cooperate with colleagues in all sectors, and strengthen exchanges with governments, organizations and overseas experts around the world, and contribute to the development of a more harmonious world.
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