BEIJING - China will attract overseas experts in equipment manufacturing and emerging industries this year to help its economic restructuring process, officials said Tuesday.

The country would also recruit overseas talent who could help in the technological upgrading of enterprises, the development of modern service industries, the research and development of core technologies and energy saving and emission reduction sectors, according to officials attending a national conference on the introduction of overseas expertise.

Ji Yunshi, director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, said that the administration would work with international headhunting companies and employment agencies to recruit foreign talent for China.

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China has attracted 2.3 million overseas experts over the past five years, Ji said.

China introduced a more open policy last June to attract top-notch foreign talent under the National Medium and Long-term Talent Development Plan (2010-2020).

According to the plan, the government would work out favorable policies in terms of taxation, insurance, housing, children and spousal settlements, career development and research projects. It would also introduce awards for high-caliber foreign professionals willing to work in China.