Some senior management posts in large State-owned enterprises (SOEs) has drawn a record number of candidates from home and abroad.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council said yesterday that 1,603 people had applied for the 22 senior posts in the enterprises, managed directly by the central government.

With about 73 people fighting for one post, a historical high, the competition is really intense, China Youth Daily quoted an SASAC official as saying.