China is firm about reform and opening-up, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday in Beijing while meeting with foreign experts receiving the 2018 Chinese Government Friendship Award.  

Li congratulated the award winners, highly praising their contribution to push forward the Chinese socioeconomic development and promote exchanges between China and foreign countries in various fields.  

During his speech, Li reaffirmed China's resolution about reform and opening-up. He continued to say that China will further widen its market access, guarantee fair competitions among business entities regardless of ownership, and create an open, transparent, and predictable market and legal environment for domestic and international enterprises, as well as for talented individuals.

The Chinese premier welcomed more foreign experts to play a bigger role in China's innovative development, emphasizing that the Chinese government would continue to implement a more active, open and effective policy to attract talent, and try hard to ensure foreigners can work or stay in China more conveniently.

The award-winning foreign experts expressed their willingness to keep contributing to China's development and the growth of human civilization. 

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