The Chinese government on Saturday conferred Friendship Awards on 49 foreign experts from 19 countries for their outstanding performances in China.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I'd like to extend my warmest congratulations to you and express my thanks to your outstanding contributions to China's modernization course," Premier Wen Jiabao told the experts and their families.

Wen said China needed peace and friendship in its modernization drive. "Chinese people love and cherish peace, adhere to peaceful development and will strive to safeguard world peace."

He pledged to create better working conditions for foreign experts.

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

A total of 899 experts from 56 countries have received the award.

After the meeting, Wen invited the experts and their families to attend the grand reception to mark the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Source: Xinhua