Clear-cut definitions of high-level talents with education overseas and major principles and conditions for defining such talents have been provided in a guiding opinion on defining high-level returned talents released recently.

The document was issued by departments such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance.

The eight criteria are as follows:

Famous scientist who enjoys certain reputation in the international academic or technological circle, who is the pioneer or founder of some field or has made significant contribution to the development of the field;

Expert or scholar who works as equivalent to associate professor or associate researcher or above in well-known foreign university or research institute;

Management or technical personnel who works at senior management post in "World Top 500" enterprise, or at senior technical position in famous multinational company or financial agency, or at senior technical post in famous lawyer office (accounting or auditing company), with familiarity with the related business and international rules, and field experience;

Expert or scholar at mid-level or senior management post in foreign government arm, international inter-government organization or well-known non-government organizations;

Expert or scholar with great academic accomplishment, who has made significant contribution to the development of one discipline or field, who has influential thesis published on world famous academic journal, or has won international academic award and whose achievement is at the front of one discipline or field and has been widely acknowledged by insiders;

Experienced expert, scholar or technician who has led international large scientific research or engineering program;

Specialized technician with independent intellectual property rights such as major technical invention or patent or with specialized skill;

Special talent with exceptional specialty and is badly needed in China.