Beijing is hoping to attract more than 200 top professionals from overseas - with a sign-on incentive of 1 million yuan - to work in selected industries in the city.
A Beijing government plan, launched in June last year, aims to bring in 1,000 such professionals over a five-year period.
The city is hoping the response will come not only from foreigners, but from Chinese nationals working overseas.
"It is a symbol of a world city to attract talent from all over the world," said Liu Yuhui, a spokesman of the organization department of the Party's Beijing municipal committee, which is in charge of personnel work. Most of the vacancies are in emerging industries such as biopharmaceutical and new energy, Liu said.
All recruits must hold a doctorate, be under 55, be prepared to work in Beijing for at least six months and have extensive professional experience in their field.
"They should be holding key positions in organizations such as commercial firms, universities and NGOs overseas," said Song Fengjing, deputy director of the Beijing bureau of human resources and social security.
The plan is detailed on the websites of the Beijing Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security (www.bjp.gov.cn) and Beijing Overseas Talents Center (www.8610hr.cn).
Song said that last year, 88 people were recruited from overseas under this category and are working in Beijing.
In addition to the sign-on bonus, other incentives include highly attractive salaries and perks, as well as the availability of hukous for them, their spouses and children.
Besides these people, the city is looking for another 300 or so people from overseas to take specialized positions such as entrepreneurs.
Zhao Jiamin, 37, who returned from the United States two years ago, was given 100,000 yuan to start a business in Beijing.
Zhao was then a senior engineer with Oracle Corp, in California's Silicon Valley, earning $100,000 a year. He had held the position for three and a half years.
"Thanks to the favorable policy for overseas returnees, we had money to start our business," Zhao said.
He established a website in November to introduce English articles from foreign media to Chinese netizens, as well as to provide translation services.
"I feel it is worthwhile to come back," Zhao said.
"At least I accumulated some experience and changed my status from a pure engineer to a manager, which has enabled me to further my career."
