BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Over 700,000 Chinese have furtheredtheir studies in foreign countries since China implemented its reform and opening up policy in 1978, and the number keeps increasing, according to Cao Guoxing, an official of the Ministry of Education.

    Cao said 170,000 students have found jobs in China after they finished their studies, 350,000 are still studying or doing research abroad and the rest chose to work in foreign countries.

    The Ministry of Education has worked hard to bring back the overseas Chinese students. By the end of 2003, 77 percent of the presidents and 80 percent of academicians in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering have an overseas education background, Cao said.

    The official said that the Ministry of Education has established a number of projects, financing students to study abroad, and has made policies to create a favorable environment for students abroad to start their business in China.

    Beijing proves to be the first preference where the students choose to start their career.

    Statistics of the Beijing municipal bureau of personnel show that around 50,000 students chose to work in Beijing after finishing their studies abroad, who have created over 3,800 enterprises of new and high technology. Enditem