Premier Li Keqiang had high praise for the work of foreign experts in China and their efforts for the country, and he emphasized that China will continue to invite more of them to work here.

"Through the foreign experts, we have got the opportunity to learn about the advanced technology and administrative experience of developed economies," Li said while meeting the winners of 2013 Chinese Government Friendship Award on Monday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"Inviting foreign experts has aided China in opening up. It benefits the Chinese people and the whole world," Li said.

Fifty foreign experts form 20 countries received the 2013 Friendship Award, the Chinese government's top honor for foreign experts.

The annual award was established in 1991, and it has since been bestowed on 1,299 foreign experts from more than 60 countries and regions.

More than 550,000 foreign experts were working in China last year.

Li said China will continue to invite high-end foreign experts during a "critical period of China's modernization construction".

He also encouraged more foreign experts to work in western China, which is less developed.

The honorees at the event at the Great Hall of the People were encouraged by Li's words.

"It's great that China and the Chinese government appreciate our help and recognize what we have done," said Eberhard Lell, 86, of the Austrian Senior Experts Pool, an association of experts that offers help to developing economies.

"I will do my best to send experts to China and to help China develop. We are willing to give experience and knowledge to developing countries like China," Lell said.

John Naisbitt, founder of Naisbitt China Institute, was also impressed.

"The premier is very generous and knowledgeable," said Naisbitt, 84. "I'm especially impressed and excited about his mentioning western China. The west of China is growing rapidly. We foreign experts should go there."

To more efficiently introduce foreign talents to China, an official from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs announced that the country will publish a list of the work skills most in demand to aid overseas recruitment next year.

"We'll do research with human resource departments and employers to learn what types of workers they feel are hard to find," said Liu Yanguo, deputy director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

Contact the writers at dingqingfen@chinadaily.com.cn and leilei@chinadaily.com.cn