Chinese premier vows better institutional environment, IPR protection  

李克强会见外国专家：让外国人在中国拿"绿卡"更容易

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L front) receives the book Mass Flourishing from the author, American economist Edmund Phelps (R front), in Beijing, China, Sept. 30, 2014. Li met with foreign experts and their families who were awarded China's 2014 "Friendship Award" for their contribution to the country's development here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The Chinese government will continue to create an open, transparent and predictable institutional environment and enhance protection on intellectual property rights, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with a group of foreign experts receiving the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2014.

Li thanked the award recipients for their contributions to China's economic and social development.

China's development has entered into an era of innovation and its economy is at a key stage for upgrading to better quality and efficiency,he said, emphasizing China's needs for more foreign expertise.

He said the Chinese government will provide good service and support to foreign experts working in China, hoping they will bring advanced technology, managerial expertise and their own cultural experience to China.

The Chinese government conferred the Friendship Award to 100 foreign experts from 25 countries this year.

At the invitation of Li, the award recipients attended the reception marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday.

The Friendship Award is an annual award issued by the Chinese government to honor outstanding foreign experts in China. The scheme was established in 1991.