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Display Of Retired Researchers' Role Urged
Measures should be taken to enable retired researchers to play their due role in pursuing the strategy on invigorating China via science and education.
This view was expressed by Cheng Lianchang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People¡¯s Political Consultative Conference, the country¡¯s top advisory body.
Cheng quoted official statistics that show that China currently has five million retired researchers, 70 percent of whom hold senior professional technical titles.
Seventy percent of them are below the age of 70, 70 percent are in good health and 70 percent wish to continue working.
He described these researchers as an "enormous wealth" for China.
He said that on average there are 25 researchers for every 1,000 people in the world, 85 for every 1,000 people in developed countries, and nearly nine for every 1,000 people in developing countries, compared to only eight for every 1,000 people in China.
According to Cheng¡¯s estimation, China will have a shortfall of 10 million researchers in the first decade of the new century.
"The shortage of professionals is considered a major problem confronting many places in pursuing the strategy on developing western China," he said.
He cited these five million researchers in the 60-70 age group as "respectable, lovable, trustworthy and usable" professionals.
Taking flexible and proper measures to give full scope to the role of retired researchers serves as an "effective approach" to ease the shortage of professionals, he said.
For instance, they can be organized to participate in assessment of policy decisions by the state, localities and departments, and make proposals. They can also be organized to offer consulting service and conduct activities to spread scientific knowledge.
"Retired researchers enjoy an advantage that cannot be replaced by young people," he said, adding that making full use of their "intellectual resources" to serve China's modernization drive is conducive to the development of China's scientific and technological undertakings.
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