Chinese Returnees: Driving Force of Chinese Innovation is a commemorative book featuring a collection of stories from Chinese returnees, which taken together offer an important window into the recent history of China’s revitalization.  It has been published by People’s Publishing House on March 20, 2014.  The publication of the volume was supported by the editorial board of the Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA). Dr. Wang Huiyao, President of Center for China & Globalization (CCG) and the Vice-Chairman of the WRSA was the editor-in-chief of the book, while Xu Suining, Deputy Secretary-General of the WRSA, served as the associate editor.

According to Dr. Wang, the number of Chinese coming back to China after studying and working abroad amounted to 1.4 million from 1978 to 2013. The book sheds critical light on the valuable characteristics of Chinese returnees and relates their personal stories and inspiring thoughts on how they began their pioneering lives. It also serves as a reference book for policymakers and as a mirror for the Chinese returnees to reflect upon themselves and their experiences. This book can be presented as a gift on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the WRSA.

Chinese Returnees: Driving Force of Chinese Innovation is divided into three parts based on a timeline: the first part is about the exploration and innovation of Chinese returnees before the foundation of People’s Republic of China, the second focuses on how the Chinese returnees served the country from 1949 to 1978, while the final part tells the stories of Chinese returnees after the reform and opening up policy. This section and emphasizes how they have leveraged their time abroad into becoming a leading force for innovation in China.