Li Xuedong, an official of the SASAC speaks?during the training program designed for SOEs' managers.[Maverick Chen/China.org.cn]

A major program of project management and personnel management training was launched October 12 by the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA). The courses will lead to US PMP (Project Management Professional) and IPMA (International Personnel Management Association) certification for managers of state-owned enterprises (SOE).

At the training program launch ceremony, Li Xuedong of SASAC said participation in international competition is fact of life for SOEs, citing Sinopec and BP's joint acquisition of the Rumaila Oilfield in Iraq a "a successful case in point." Li said SASAC plans to reduce the number of central government-owned SOEs to 80-100 by 2010, by consolidating those with good prospects and phasing out those that lack potential.

SAFEA has been cooperating with SASAC on management training in central government SOEs since July 2007. The current program selected 3,585 managers from 51 central SOEs, covering the arms industry, petrochemicals, electricity, metals and others. 1400 managers will attend the current round of courses and the remainder will be enrolled next spring.

SAFEA introduced PMP and IPMA training to prepare state companies for competition with overseas rivals. Both are proven recognized qualifications, and are seen as an effective way to improve management performance.

Li said that globalisation has long since blurred the international boundaries and all companies face competition in domestic and international markets. China's leading state firms must actively compete in the global marketplace and refuse to settle for second best.

Li also pointed out that Chinese companies still hold the advantage in turning out good-quality products at a far lower cost than EU or US companies. He urged SOEs to emulate examples of success such as the world's fastest train – the 380 kph "Harmony Train", and mega-projects such as the Hangzhou Bay Bridge.