China will launch a global search for talent in a bid to spruce up the state-owned enterprises (SOE), a senior official in charge of state assets said.

A group of six state-owned companies have been selected for the experiment, and the practice will gradually spread to other state-owned enterprises, said Li Yizhong, deputy director of the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission.

The worldwide hunt will start in the second half of the year. "This is the orientation of our leadership restructuring at state-owned enterprises. We believe state-owned companies must absorb the most outstanding talents from around the world to become strong players on the international market," Li said.

Seven senior executive positions at these six enterprises have been selected for the experiment, the highest being deputy.

(China Daily August 18, 2003)