On the afternoon of September 29, 2012, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met at the Great Hall of the People with the foreign experts winning the 2012 "Friendship Award" of the Chinese government and their families. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Premier Wen congratulated the award-winning foreign experts, thanked them for their outstanding contribution to China's economic development and social progress and extended his cordial greetings to all the foreign experts and international friends working in China and their families.

It is an important part of China's policy of reform and opening-up to employ foreign experts, Wen said. The premier briefed the foreigners on China's employing overseas talent during the past decade. He highlighted the increasing number of foreign experts employed in the country, the improved service and working environment for them as well as the expanded fields of international cooperation. China's introduction of foreign experts not only benefited Chinese people but also provided opportunities for intellectual cooperation and exchanges between Chinese professionals and those from all the other nations, said the premier. "We sincerely welcome foreign experts and talent to join us in various means with China's modernization drive and will as always support them to start business and develop in China," Wen said. He pledged that the Chinese government would further improve the relevant policies and regulations, improve working and living conditions for foreign intellectuals and protect their legitimate rights and interests so that foreign experts will bring into play expertise, develop business and realize ideals in China.

"Peace, development and cooperation are the irresistible trend of the times in today's world," Wen said. He added that China, as the largest developing country in the world and an important force for promoting world peace and development, would firmly stick to the path of peaceful development as well as the fundamental policy of opening-up. China will learn from the fine achievements of other civilizations and strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation with other countries. China's development and progress would be a great contribution to all human beings, he said.

The "Friendship Award" is set up by the Chinese government for the foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the economic and social development in China. The 50 winners of this year's award came from 22 countries. Since 1991, a total of 1,249 foreign experts from 65 countries have received this award.

Ma Kai, State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council was present at the meeting.