The number of students returning to China after studying abroad has increased at an annual rate of 13 percent over the last few years, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Personnel.

In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Liaoning and Sichuan, the growth rate exceeds 20 percent.

More than 580,000 Chinese went to study abroad since China began its reform and opening-up 25 years ago, and 150,000 of the have come back to serve the motherland.

To encourage the students to return, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Education have set up special fund to assist the returnees to begin their career in China.

The Ministry of Personnel has allocated almost 200 million yuan (US$24 million) to support research programs of 5,000 returned students and more than 4,000 others to engage in interim service in China.

Now China has about 70 special establishments for the returnees to fulfill their career dreams, and they have set up 4,000 enterprises in those zones.

(Xinhua News Agency   December 17, 2003)