THE Chinese Government welcomes more foreign experts to work in China, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday, as he pledged greater efforts to provide a favorable environment for expatriates to stay in the country.

The premier extended festive greetings to foreign experts in China, during a meeting in Beijing ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, which begins Saturday. He expressed his appreciation for their contributions to China’s reform, opening up and modernization drive.

Li said he hopes foreign experts will offer more suggestions on the work of the Chinese Government.

Efforts will be made to optimize the country’s work permit, visa and residence policies for foreign talent and improve policies relating to issues such as tax, the purchase of foreign currencies, medical insurance and services as well as the admission of foreigners’ children to school, he said.

The seventh national census, which surveyed the nation’s population status Nov. 1, 2020, showed more than 845,000 foreigners were living in China.

Li said the Chinese economy in 2022 made progress in coping with challenges and overcoming difficulties amid the combined impact of COVID-19 and other factors. He noted that China achieved reasonable economic growth for the whole year, and that it was higher than in 2020.

More than 12 million new urban jobs were created, which was better than expected, Li said, and consumer prices rose just 2% against the backdrop of high global inflation.

He said that China’s economy continues to face many difficulties and challenges, but it is believed that with the implementation of optimized and adjusted COVID-19 prevention and control measures, China’s economy will recover at an accelerated pace.

Li stressed that China is committed to giving top priority to development, staunchly pursuing market-oriented reform, better protecting the rights and interests of foreign investors, boosting the confidence of private enterprises, and fostering a market-oriented and law-based international business environment.

He said China remains committed to its basic State policy of opening up, and it will open up its domestic market further and expand market access for foreign investment.

“China is ready to learn from advanced technologies and management experience, continue extensive international cooperation with other countries, respond to common challenges facing the international community, and safeguard world peace, stability, development and prosperity,” he added.

(Xinhua, China Daily)