Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday met with 100 foreign experts who have received the annual Friendship Award for their outstanding contribution to China's modernization at the Great Hall of the People.

Also meeting their relatives, Premier Wen thanked them on behalf of the Chinese government and the people, for their contribution to the country's social and economic development.

Wen further extended his greetings to all foreign experts, international friends and their relatives working in China.

Wen said over 60 years of development, and especially since the reform and opening up 30 years ago, China had made extraordinary achievements and undergone earth-shaking changes.

He said these achievements were a result of hard work and the unity of the Chinese people, but they were also inseparable with the wisdom and contribution from foreign experts and international friends.

Wen said China could not achieve development without the rest of the world, nor could the world's prosperity and stability be attained without China.

He said the government would firmly stick to the opening-up policy, and welcome more foreign experts to take part in building the country.

The Friendship Award was begun in 1991 by the Chinese government to commend foreign experts who make a great contribution to the country's social and economic development.

The 100 experts who received this award this year come from 28 countries, in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing, scientific research, education, environment protection, among others.

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