Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) meets with foreign experts, who have just received the Friendship Award presented by the Chinese government, and their relatives in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2010. [Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday that the Chinese government would develop more open policies to attract high-level foreign talent to China.

China's development would not be achieved without the understanding and support from the international community, Wen said.

He also urged government departments to create more favorable policies for foreign experts in China, concretely implement the policies and provide better working and living conditions for these experts.

Wen made the remarks during his meeting with 50 foreign experts who had won this year's "Friendship Award" at the Great Hall of the People.

Wen, on behalf of the Chinese government and the people, congratulated the winners and thanked them for their outstanding contribution to the country's social and economic development.

He also met with the winners' family members and extended his greetings to them, as well as to all foreign experts and friends working in China.

Foreign experts in China were the participants in China's development and the eyewitnesses of such development and progress in China, Wen said.

The achievements China had gained were a result of both the hard work of the Chinese people and the wisdom and efforts of the foreign experts, he said.

The "Friendship Award" is an annual award issued by the Chinese government to honor outstanding foreign experts in China. A total of 1,149 foreign experts from 60 countries have been awarded the honor since it was issued in 1991.

This year's 50 winners come from 16 countries, and they are experts in various fields such as industry, agriculture, energy technology, environment, education, health and cultural sectors. They received the award at a ceremony on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Wen also met with new ambassadors to China from 32 countries at the Great Hall of the People.