China has become the top country for human resources in the world, but it suffers from a "brain drain" more than any other country, especially in science and engineering.

China has become the top country for human resources in the world, but it suffers from a "brain drain" more than any other country, especially in science and engineering, according to the office head of the Central Coordination Group for Talents' Work, where 87 percent of students or academics choose to stay abroad.

By the end of 2012, there had been 2.64 million Chinese students overseas, but only 1.09 million had returned to China. Since 2003, the number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased from less than 120,000 to about 400,000. Meanwhile, the number of foreign students in China has increased from less than 80,000 to about 330,000. The "deficit" of students studying abroad has surpassed 40,000 each year, peaking at close to 70,000.

Although more students have returned to China in the last decade after the steady growth of Chinese economy and the economic downturn in the West, fewer of them are highly qualified.

Analysts believe that the outflow of talent, especially the loss of high-end group, will affect the sustainability of the fast growth of the Chinese economy. Lack of innovation is one of the outcomes: China only ranks 34 of 141 economics listed on the 2012 Global Innovation Index.

The "talent deficit" in developing countries is a problem that can not be solved thoroughly, according to experts. To move from a "brain drain" to a "brain gain," China should follow the trend of globalized talent, improve the environment for nurturing talent, create a favorable environment for returned talents and establish an economic model that is driven by information and innovation.

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