China offers fresh PhD support to the west

BEIJING - A total of 193 young talents with PhD degrees on Tuesday finished their training and will soon be sent to work in China's underdeveloped western regions for one year, according to the campaign's organizers.

This year's "Doctoral Service Group," the 14th cohort since 1999, was initiated by the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Communist Youth League as a major campaign to boost the development of western areas.

Figures from the CPC Organization Department show that 1,641 PhDs in the previous 13 groups have worked in the country's western regions and ethnic border areas, bringing 1,447 projects and funding worth 364.2 billion yuan ($60 billion).

According to the department, most of the talents in the 14th round have both high professional skills and management experience, and 165 among them are CPC members.

Training courses for the PhDs cover the country's support measures for the west, regional economic and social conditions and ethnic policies in order to prepare them for their roles quickly.