On January 21, the 2018 “Talents Gathering” Forum & Global Talent Annual Meeting, hosted by the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association and supported by the Chinese Overseas Returnees Service Alliance, China International Talent Exchange Foundation and Zhongguancun Federation of Social Organizations, was successfully held in the Talents‑Gathering Hall, Friendship Palace, Beijing Friendship Hotel. Nearly 600 participants attended, including leading officials and talent experts from relevant national ministries, heads of local organization and human‑resources authorities, representatives of domestic and international strategic‑cooperation institutions, member organisations, leaders of overseas student associations, outstanding international students in China and representatives of international friends.

As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: “Talent is a strategic resource for national rejuvenation and for securing the initiative in international competition. We must uphold the Party‑led principle for talent management, gather and make good use of the best talent under heaven, and accelerate building China into a talent‑strong country.” Under the theme “Gather Global Talents, Create Great Undertakings of Our Times”, this event earnestly implements the spirit of the 19th National Congress and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic vision to “gather and make good use of the best talent under heaven”. It advances talent‑related exchanges and cooperation in the new era, fosters friendship, builds consensus and pools strength, so as to deliver robust talent and intellectual support for the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The host called on global talents to seize new‑era opportunities, build momentum through innovation and make due contributions to this great age.

The forum fell into two sessions. In the keynote‑speech session, Wu Jiang, talent expert and former President of the Chinese Academy of Personnel Science, interpreted General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic thinking of “gathering and making good use of the best talent under heaven”. Wu Jiang noted that since the 19th National Congress, talent resources have evolved from a primary resource into a strategic resource. The strategic framework for prioritising talent‑driven development has taken shape; major targets set out in the national talent‑development plan have been largely met; the national policy system for talent advancement has been basically improved; and the notion that “talent is the primary resource” has taken deep root. Drawing on the spirit of the 19th National Congress, he summarised the strategic framework for gathering and leveraging global talent in the new era, and highlighted prominent problems and challenges for future talent work.

The second session featured high‑level discussions revolving around the core concept of “gathering”. Experts and delegates held two in‑depth dialogues themed Recruitment of Senior Experts and Enhancement of International Competitiveness and Attracting and Nurturing Young Talents for New Industries and New Growth Drivers.

The session Recruitment of Senior Experts and Enhancement of International Competitiveness was chaired by Zhao Lixian, international‑talent expert and former Director‑General of the Legislative Affairs Department under the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, who shared insights on talent visas, permanent residence and the agglomeration of high‑end talent. Guest speakers including Zhang Zhuxiu, Director‑General of the Shandong Provincial Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs; Wang Xianzhong, Deputy General Manager of Shandong Tianrui Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.; and Cui Daqing, specially‑appointed researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, exchanged views on local talent policies, the introduction of high‑end talent such as foreign academicians and high‑level returned experts, and building long‑term recruitment mechanisms.

The session Attracting and Nurturing Young Talents for New Industries and New Growth Drivers was presided over by Yang Kai, Director of the Overseas Scholar Service Division of the Service Center for Overseas Scholars and Experts under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Six guests including Wu Yi, Director of the Talent Division of the Organisation Department of Jinan Municipal Party Committee; Zhou Yinsong, Director of the Talent Division of the Organisation Department of Taizhou Municipal Party Committee (Jiangsu Province); Wang Jinding, Deputy Director of Zhejiang Provincial Service Center for Experts and Overseas Scholars; Zhao Xinliang, Director of the Haidian Park Entrepreneurship Service Center, Zhongguancun Science Park; Cui Yan, Dean of the Sino‑German Institute of Artificial Intelligence; and Peng Dinglan, President of the All‑Canada Chinese Students and Scholars Association and PhD candidate at Columbia University, discussed how overseas PhD holders bring projects to China for docking and implementation. Participants agreed that young talents with global vision, professional expertise and innovation‑entrepreneurship projects have become key targets for local authorities in talent and investment promotion, and play a vital role in fostering new industries and growth drivers.

During the subsequent Global Talent Annual Meeting, Ding Zhifeng, Vice‑President and Secretary‑General of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, delivered a work report titled Gather Global Talents Jointly to Create Great Undertakings of Our Times. He reviewed achievements made in 2017 and preceding years, analysed major opportunities for talent recruitment, and outlined future priorities and key tasks for 2018.

Leaders of the Association presented certificates to newly‑admitted vice‑president and council‑member organisations, as well as heads or representatives from 25 overseas student associations. Strategic‑cooperation agreements were signed with four domestic‑overseas strategic partners and two overseas student associations. Building on four existing special committees (for foreign‑teacher talents, international students in China, global high‑end talents and international innovation‑entrepreneurship), unveiling ceremonies were held for two newly‑established bodies: the Special Committee for Returned Overseas Talents and the Special Committee for Information‑Innovation Talents. Meanwhile, the Special Committee for International Students in China hosted a parallel forum International Students Stepping into China’s Workplace in the VIP Hall of Friendship Palace, where international students exchanged views on internships, employment, innovation and entrepreneurship in China.

In the evening, the Global Talents Friendship Gala themed Sing the Anthem of Talents, Tell Good Stories of China brought the event to a climax. The Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association awarded the honorary title of Global Talent Exchange Ambassador to three recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award: Mark Levine, Edwin Maher and Gerhard Fasol. Honorary certificates of Young Ambassador for Global‑Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship were conferred on two outstanding representatives of overseas students and heads of overseas‑student associations: Peng Dinglan and Liu Mei. Foreign friends and international‑student representatives put on splendid song‑and‑dance performances.

Registered in Zhongguancun, the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association is a national‑level social organisation specialising in international talent exchanges. Guided by the strategy of building a talent‑strong country, it promotes exchanges and cooperation in talent, technology and high‑tech projects, supports the innovation‑driven‑development strategy, and provides solid talent and intellectual support for socio‑economic progress. Since its founding in early 2015, the Association has stayed true to its mission, strengthened Party‑building work, united industry, social forces and global talents to advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, earning recognition and acclaim from relevant national authorities and all sectors of society.