Editorials

Treat talent alike

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-19 07:53

As always, it is positive to note that the authorities care about inducting talented people in its set-up.

Beijing's idea of recruiting at least 1,000 people of various skills in its administration is laudable.

At least, it shows that the municipality is aware of the value of absorbing highly motivated people to boost development.

The ambitious drive is fine; only, it should not just focus on recruiting talented people from abroad. There is a plethora of homegrown talent that will equally do the job.

There may be many competent people abroad who best serve our needs. Some, of course, cannot be substituted - for, their expertise and acumen are not readily available at home.

Yet, local talent should not be given the go-by. The existence of talented people at home must not be victimized just because the system lacks confidence in itself. They deserve equal respect as their overseas counterparts.

The local authorities may have had no intention to discriminate against homegrown talent, but the high-profile policy does have the potential to create a very different impression.

Finding competent people from overseas to work for it is fine, but it should come sans special favors doled out at the expense of locally trained professionals.

One of the most pressing problems that our system faces is the inability to identify true talent, which also has a lot to do with the absence of fair competition.

Change must come from a policy of opening the door to all talented people, no matter where they are trained.

(China Daily 05/19/2010 page8)