CHINESE RETURNING HOME after graduating from universities overseas have played crucial roles in multinational corporations in China, using their understanding of both Chinese and foreign culture to help the international companies' localization. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Almost all large-scale multinational ventures in China employ returnees. Some of the returnees are senior executives and have promoted foreign investment in China as well as China's integration into the global market.

That some foreign enterprises think China's investment and the quality of its business environment have declined is a misperception, and the senior-executive returnees in foreign enterprises should take the initiative to inform their companies of China's latest reform and opening-up moves, so as to better consolidate their employers' confidence in China.

More important, they should do their jobs well, so that the performance and profits of the companies they work for can convince other international companies that China remains an attractive investment destination.

Returnees also have a new role to play in helping Chinese companies take part in the global market and international competition. Their knowledge and understanding of foreign cultures, policies and laws are all valuable assets for Chinese enterprises going global.

Also, a large number of returnees work in the service sector providing legal, consultation and accounting services, and they can help Chinese enterprises seeking to be listed on foreign stock exchanges or their mergers and acquisitions overseas.

Returnees will become increasingly important as China accelerates its opening-up and integration into the global system.

It is not difficult for Chinese enterprises to go global, but it is not so easy for them to stand up on the world stage. Returnees can show their worth by giving full play to their understanding of the differences between Eastern and Western cultures and their familiarity with the rules of the international market.