Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday extended festival
greetings to all foreign experts working in China and expressed
gratitude for their contributions to the country's
modernization.
"We cherish and will never forget all the contributions that
foreign experts have made to China's development," said Wen during
a gathering with veteran foreign experts in the Great Hall of the
People nine days before the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year's day.
Some of the foreign experts attending Friday's gathering have
received the government's "Friendship Award".
Wen said China will stick to the policy of inviting foreign
brains to contribute to the country's development and opening-up
and encouraged government departments to improve the work and
living situation of foreign experts in China.
The central government will fund the introduction of 10,000
economic and technical specialists and 20,000 educational, health
and scientific specialists in 2007, according to the Ministry of
Personnel.
The Chinese mainland has recruited a total of 400,000
specialists from foreign countries, Hong Kong and Macao special
administrative regions and Taiwan, and has dispatched nearly 40,000
qualified personnel to study overseas.
(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2007)
