China will welcome more foreign experts to participate in the country's economic and social development, said Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday.

"The development and achievements China made in the past 60 years have been the result of the united efforts of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, together with the hard work and dedication of numerous foreign experts," said Li.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (4th R) attends a reception for the foreign experts working in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27.

Li made the remarks while addressing a reception on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

 Some 1,800 foreign experts and Chinese officials attended the reception.

The number of overseas experts working in China continued to rise, reaching 480,000 tours of duty in 2008, he said.

"They provide strong expert support for the economic and social development of China," said Li.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang speaks during a reception for the foreign experts working in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing

 China set up the Friendship Award in 1991, the country's highest award for foreign experts, to award those who have made outstanding contributions to China's economic and social progress.

"The Chinese government will further deepen the reform and opening up......widely attract and gather international personnel, and conduct international exchanges and cooperation in an ever-broader scope, in a wider range of fields and at higher levels than before," said Li.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) toasts with Chinese-American physical scientist and Nobel Prize winner Yang Zhenning (R, front) during a reception for the foreign experts working in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27.

 With regard to China's economic development, Li said China's stimulus measures adopted to deal with the global financial crisis was producing results, however, the foundation for the recovery of the Chinese economy was not solid yet.

 China would maintain the continuity and stability of its macro-economic policy, deepen economic restructuring, expand domestic demand and promote renovation and transformation of economic development mode, so as to push for the long-term steady and fast economic growth and overall social progress, Li said.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L, front) attends a reception for the foreign experts working in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) attends a reception for the foreign experts working in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27.

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