Overseas Scholars Help Jinan EvolveThe city image of Jinan is expected to greatly improve, alongside the prospects of its foreign-oriented economy, in the near future to meet the challenge after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), said Wang Tianyi, vice-mayor of the capital city in East China's Shandong Province, according to today's China Daily.On Thursday, China (Jinan) Overseas Scholars & Professionals Association announced it will establish itself in the city. More than 100 overseas scholars and professionals met to seek co-operative opportunities with Jinan. Overseas Chinese scholars came from the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. Most of them are in important positions in famous multinational enterprises. They came with a total of 100 co-operative projects, some of which have been established in Jinan New and High-tech Industrial Park. Statistics show that a total of 20,000 Chinese scholars abroad are from Jinan, half of the total in Shandong Province. "They are our fortune," said the mayor. "We should invite them back and strengthen our relations with them. Therefore, it is an important strategy of Jinan to give full play to the overall advantages of Jinan overseas Chinese scholars' talents, and to set up a new way to link Jinan with the world." Wang said Jinan will provide various preferential policies for overseas Chinese to invest or work in the city. Hometown passion and supportive policies are expected to be combined to promote Jinan's overseas talents' strategy and economic internationalization strategy. Early in September, Jinan will also start its first China (Jinan) International Tourism Fair. Jinan has long been known as a tourist resort. Baotu Spring, Qianfo Mountain, Daming Lake, the relics of Longshan Culture and Lingyan Temple are well known. "Jinan is not only a city with rich tourist resources but also a large tourist consumption city," Wang said. "Every year, millions of tourists visit here, and Jinan cannot shirk the responsibility of holding such a fair." To date , more than 10 foreign representative groups from such countries as the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Russia and Thailand, will participate in the fair. More than 20 domestic tourist bureaux and all of the cities of Shandong are also going to attend. The number of exhibition booths will exceed 500. Jinan has made great achievements in foreign-oriented economy in the past 20 years. At present , it has set up economic co-operation with 120 countries and regions. |
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