Dear Expats, China Needs Your Suggestions!

Louise Lai | Jan 26, 2014 9:00 am | 7 comments | 2359 reads

Humble expats have been called upon by the mighty Chinese government to be part of a select group of 1000 expats to personally lend China a helping hand as part of the Foreign Experts Recommendation Project. 

Could you be the expat "expert" that they want? If you are under 65, are able to work in China for three years and consider yourself an expert in a particular market sector, then you may have a shot. Click here for more details on qualifications.

But first, according to the official website, a suitable applicant must “establish cooperative relationship (or cooperation intention) with a Chinese partner (possible employer)”, after which the Chinese partner will launch your application on his or her behalf. Yikes, talk about guanxi!

These foreigners are expected to give council and suggestions for China’s future reforms. Since the launch of this initiative in 2012, the team has had many notable participants that include three Nobel Prize winners. According to China Daily, recent notable participants appointed to the Foreign Experts Recommendation Project by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs include: Alistair Michie, deputy chairman of the 48 Group Club; Tatsuhito Tokuchi, managing director at CITIC Securities Co; and Jeffrey Lehman, the founding deputy chancellor of New York University Shanghai.

It is no secret that China has been making a big show in implementing massive changes in policies that target excessive consumption and unsustainable pollution. These policies run parallel with smoking bans, a decrease in excessive liquor consumption and the very interesting morality campaign.

Could you be part of this select group of expats to do China a "solid"? Calling all foreign deputy chairmen and chancellors: please instigate such an initiative with your local cooperative relationship. The future of China depends upon your proper application of bureaucracy.

Photo: alternet.org

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britomart's picture britomart Submitted by Guest on Mon, 01/27/2014 - 09:04

I had this very same thing happen on a smaller scale a few years ago when my (very large, formerly government-run) company got a new president and new Party dude. The new leadership called a meeting of the foreign employees--all three of us--and asked for our advice about what our company could do better. My Russian colleague commented about their housing situation for foreign employees (company housing sucks). My Japanese colleague commented about the need for improvement in marketing (our company needs to publish what the market needs, not what the powers on high think the People need). I commented on the need for consistency in editing (we need an in-house style guide) and the need to improve quality of our books' content (we need to stop publishing crap copied off the Internet).

Guess how many of those suggestions have been "paid attention to"? It's been three years since our little "let 100 flowers bloom" meeting... Nothing has changed. At least we weren't axed for sharing opinions. But then, all three of us shared pretty innocuous criticisms. If I'd shared what I'd actually wanted to, I doubt I'd still be here.

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

Johny_Utah's picture Johny_Utah Submitted by Guest on Sun, 01/26/2014 - 14:38

For a cool 1-2 million RMB a year, id gladly do them a solid by giving the Chinese advice and letting them blame their woes on me. Anyone who wouldnt get in on that gig is a fooken idiot.

You could purposely apply reverse psychology where you tell the Chinese Government all the bad things to do, and they figure you are an idiot, and then do the right thing by cleaning up their act ! ...Or they figure, wow this guy IS REALLY Chinese

The Equalizer's picture The Equalizer Submitted by Guest on Sun, 01/26/2014 - 12:15

Do you really think the Chinese governemnt would listen to an expat? And on the outside chance they would, they certainly would turn the horse into a camel. For Christs sake, give us a break. Or should I have said camel characteristics?

All information stated by this poster is for informational purposes only. The content should not substitute you seeking psychiatric advice should you have a problem with it.

alwn1708's picture alwn1708 Submitted by Guest on Sun, 01/26/2014 - 09:49

From a cynical perspective, this is basically the usual Chinese tactic of "give us some 'ideas' because we have'nt a fking clue" , and when it all turns to shit they can blame the foreigners!

Does this really look like the face of concern?

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