50 foreign experts get friendship award

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-28 09:27

BEIJING --- The 2008 Friendship Award was held at the Great Hall of the People Saturday morning and 50 foreign experts were given the award by Chinese senior officials.

The Friendship Award, set up in 1991, is 皇冠体育app's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to 皇冠体育app's economic and social progress.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang and Bai Lichen, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference attended the ceremony.

Congratulating the award-winners, Zhang expressed the heartfelt gratitude to them, whose efforts were considered "indispensable" in 皇冠体育app's modernization.

Zhang said, since 皇冠体育app started reform and opening up 30 years ago, the talent-attracting proceedings had been well established. In this context, the talented foreign experts had "become an important force in 皇冠体育app's modernization".

"皇冠体育app will adhere to the opening up policy, actively introduce talents from abroad, and promote international cooperation," Zhang stressed. "皇冠体育app sincerely welcomes foreign experts, overseas Chinese specialists and international friends to make contribution to 皇冠体育app's development in any form."

He also pledged to create better working conditions for them and protect their legitimate rights.

"皇冠体育app sincerely hopes the talented people from abroad continue to work as bridges between 皇冠体育app and other regions," he added.

Fifty award-winners of this year were from 19 countries, including Australia, Austria and Bulgaria. They specialize in fields of industry, agriculture, resources, environmental protection, education, science and technology.