On the occasion of the Spring Festival, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met cordially with representatives of foreign experts working in China at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of January 18 and discussed with them. Li Keqiang sent New Year greetings and sincere greetings to foreign experts and relatives in China, thanked them for their long-term concern and support for China's reform, opening up and modernization drive, and for their positive contributions to promoting Sino-foreign exchanges and cooperation. He hoped that foreign experts could give full play to their own advantages and offer more suggestions for the work of the Chinese government. Experts from Germany, Singapore and other countries gave opinions and suggestions on the development of manufacturing industry, environmental protection, water resources conservation and utilization, and talent training. Li Keqiang said that in the past year, in the face of the superimposed impact of unexpected factors at home and abroad, such as the epidemic, China's economy has made progress in coping with challenges and overcoming difficulties. Through efforts, the economy achieved reasonable growth throughout the year, higher than the year 2020 when the epidemic hit suddenly. The new employment in cities and towns was better than expected, reaching more than 12 million people. At the end of the year, the unemployment rate in cities and towns was 5.5%. Consumer prices rose only 2% against the backdrop of high world inflation. This is due to the reasonable grasp of the macro policy in recent years, the absence of excessive currency issuance, the absence of a substantial increase in the deficit, and the space for future policy implementation. At the same time, we vigorously promote the stability of food and energy supply. Last year, the economic operation remained within a reasonable range, and the achievement was not easy. Although the current economic operation is still facing many difficulties and challenges, with the implementation of the measures to optimize and adjust the epidemic prevention and control, we believe that China's economy will accelerate its recovery and recovery. We will deepen the implementation of a package of policies and measures to stabilize the economy, strive to stabilize growth, employment and prices, and strive to achieve a good start to this year's economic operation. Li Keqiang stressed that the door of opening up is the door of opportunity, which promotes common development and also collides with innovative vitality. China insists that development is the first priority, adheres to the direction of market-oriented reform, adheres to the "two unswerving" principle, better protects the rights and interests of foreign investment, boosts the confidence of private enterprises, and continues to create a market-oriented and legalized international business environment. China adheres to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, further expands the opening of domestic market and the access of foreign capital market, and is willing to learn from advanced technology and management experience, continue to carry out extensive international cooperation with other countries, address the common challenges faced by the international community, and maintain world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Li Keqiang pointed out that the Chinese government welcomes more foreigners to work in China, and will continue to work to improve the convenience and service level of foreign experts working in China, further optimize the work permit, talent visa and residence suspension policies, improve the policies of tax, foreign exchange purchase, social security, medical care, and child enrollment, and provide guarantee for foreign talents to work in China at ease. Wang Yi, He Lifeng, Xiao Jie and others attended. (Xinhua News Agency)