As China celebrates the 40th anniversary of joining the International Atomic Energy Agency, an expert talks about how her organization is nurturing talents for overseas projects.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the CNNC, the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and the CNNC jointly stage a play on July 15, 2024. Yu Jie plays a senior engineer in the nuclear industry.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China joining the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To mark the milestone, China will open 12 nuclear research platforms to other countries to conduct experiments or engage in joint research. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. (CEPC) plays a key role in organizing international projects on nuclear energy. Yu Jie, in charge of international cooperation at the CEPC, talks about how her organization is nurturing experts with interdisciplinary skills.
“When a company first engages in any international cooperation project, its efforts usually focus on technological exchanges. But as it moves into the next phase, it has to deal with international business operations, which cover all aspects of international commerce. When we expand overseas, we need team members with expertise in many areas, including knowing the local language, conditions, and legal and financial systems,” she says.
Therefore, besides technological skills, capabilities in finance, business, law, and language are also necessary for the overseas team. Currently, the CEPC has a group of talents who have international educational backgrounds and work experience. They were first trained in skills required for specialized projects in China, and then sent to work in branch offices in other countries. “This combination of understanding the culture and having work experience at home and abroad enables our employees to delve into international market development with high efficiency.”
She herself is a prime example of this strategy. Soon after she started her career, she realized that the nature of her work required not only technological expertise but also a deep understanding of international relations. As a result, in addition to degrees in chemical engineering, she has become a Ph.D. student in international relations.
As it usually takes a long time to achieve results in international cooperation, it is important for the team to have passion for their work and maintain it. Yu said, “Those who maintain their passion after the first overseas assignments continue to grow with some having become leaders.”
Yu Jie presides over a meeting.
Through organizing and participating in international forums, Yu has witnessed how the advancement of China's technological capacity has drawn more international attention to Chinese companies and helped them quickly win global recognition.
Every year, three or four CEPC experts work in prominent international organizations and specialized committees, including the IAEA and specialized nuclear energy agencies under the United Nations. “There are few members from developing countries in international nuclear organizations. As one of the few developing countries present there, it is a valuable opportunity for China to have a voice in these institutions,” Yu said.
As part of the events celebrating the 40th anniversary of China joining the IAEA, the CEPC will open its atmospheric and water environment and radio-ecological simulation research platform to other countries for joint research. “We look forward to promoting technological innovation together with international partners,” she said.
By September 2024, the CEPC had organized or participated in over 50 high-level international exchange activities. Based on its specialty, it hosted seminars and sponsored training courses for overseas programs. “At these events, our international partners saw China’s steady progress in nuclear technology,” she said.
In 2024, Yu submitted a report on the operational challenges faced by the overseas branches of Chinese enterprises to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top advisory body. She also submitted a report on accelerating mutual recognition of international professional qualifications to the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC.
She believes that an efficient system for smooth mutual recognition of qualifications will facilitate talent exchange. “Today, a number of young professionals who have studied or worked overseas want to work in China. For them, the professional qualifications they obtained abroad are a key factor in determining their suitability for a professional post when they come to China to work. This means that mutual recognition of qualifications in critical professions is particularly important,” Yu said.
