Since Deng Xiaoping’s momentous decision in 1978 to send a large number of students and scholars to study abroad, about 1.6 million individuals born in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have pursued foreign educational opportunities, many in the United States. As a result of the Chinese government’s specific efforts, a booming economy and other factors, about half a million of these individuals have returned to the PRC. These returnees, known as the “sea turtles,” now play important roles in many walks of life in the country, including its educational institutions, research centers, central and local governments, state and private enterprises, law firms, media networks and NGOs.

When: Tuesday, April 06, 2010, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Where: Falk Auditorium, The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Host: Brookings Institution, John L. Thornton China Center
Contact: Brookings Office of Communications
E-mail: events@brookings.edu
Phone: 202.797.6105
Register at: http://www.brookings.edu/events /2010/0406_china_returnees.aspx

On April 6, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings will host scholars from the PRC, Hong Kong and the United States for a discussion on the increasing importance of foreign-educated Chinese returnees. The experts will address a number of crucial questions including China’s strategies for attracting returnees, the role of these human capital flows in U.S.-China relations, the values and attitudes of foreign-educated returnees and the impact of this group on China’s political system and foreign policy.

Senior Fellow Kenneth Lieberthal, director of the John L. Thornton China Center, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion. After the program panelists will take questions from the audience.

Introduction and Moderator
Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Director, John L. Thornton China Center

Panelists
Cheng Li, Director of Research, John L. Thornton China Center

Wang Huiyao, Director General, Center for China & Globalization

David Zweig, Director, Center on China’s Transnational Relations, The Hong Kong, University of Science and Technology