China plans to hire foreigners for top positions at six state-owned companies by the end of this year in a pilot program to help some of the country's biggest businesses compete with foreign rivals.

The State-Owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission, which was set up to control the country's 196 state-owned companies, said in a statement that foreigners will probably be picked to fill seven top positions in six firms. Li Yizhong, deputy head of the commission, said a large company must absorb the best talents to become globally competitive.

(Shanghai Daily August 18, 2003)