On the afternoon of Jan. 26, 2011, as the Chinese Lunar New Year was approaching, Wen Jiabao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council, met with senior foreign experts and representatives of outstanding foreign experts and their families and had cordial discussions with them at the Great Hall of the People.

The East Hall of the Great Hall of the People was filled with a festive atmosphere. More than 20 foreign experts and their families attended the discussions. Isabel, Jackson, Pang Kaiwen (Chinese name) and other experts made remarks on behalf of foreign experts and thanked the Chinese government for the long-term care and help. They also put forward positive and pertinent comments and suggestions on China's community building, finance, aviation industry and other issues.

Having attentively listened to the opinions and recommendations of foreign experts, Wen Jiabao paid great tribute to senior foreign experts for sharing weal and woe with the Chinese people for decades and extended his festive greetings to all foreign experts working in China and their families on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

Wen said 2010 was an extraordinary year for the Chinese people. In face of extremely complicated international and domestic environments, China consolidated and expanded what had been achieved in the process of combating the international financial crisis, and overcame a series of natural disasters such as the disastrous earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai and devastating floods and landslides in Zhouqu, Gansu. China successfully held the Shanghai World Expo and fulfilled the objectives and tasks in the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan". These achievements are a result of the solidarity, diligence and courage of the Chinese people as well as a result of the care and support of foreign friends.

Wen pointed out that 2011 is the beginning year of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan". China's modernization will usher in a new beginning. The further China develops, the more inseparable from the world China is, the more human guarantee and intellectual support China needs. China will implement more open human resource policies and will intensify efforts to bring in foreign intelligence. China will continue to improve innovation system, better policies and regulations, upgrade service levels, and actively introduce and make good use of overseas high-level talents. China warmly welcomes more foreign experts to work in China and participate in China's modernization drive. Related departments should create a better environment for foreign experts to work in China.

The meeting went well in a cordial, warm and peaceful atmosphere. After the meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao shook hands and took a group photo with foreign experts.

Also present at the meeting are Li Yuanchao (member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and head of Organization Department of CPC), Zhang Dejiang (member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council), Ling Jihua, (member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee), Ma Kai (State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council) and State Councilor Dai Bingguo.