Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday held a symposium in Beijing with foreign experts working in China. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Chinese government welcomes more foreign experts to work in China, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday, as he pledged greater efforts to provide a favorable environment for expatriates to stay in the country.

The premier extended festive greetings to foreign experts in China, during a meeting in Beijing ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, which begins on Saturday. He expressed his appreciation for their contributions to China's reform, opening-up and modernization drive.

Li said he hopes foreign experts will offer more suggestions on the work of the Chinese government.

Efforts will be made to optimize the country's work permit, visa and residence policies for foreign talent and improve policies relating to issues such as tax, the purchase of foreign currencies, medical insurance and services as well as the admission of foreigners' children to school, he said.

The seventh national census, which surveyed the nation's population status on Nov 1, 2020, showed more than 845,000 foreigners were living in China.

Li stressed that China prioritizes development and reiterated the country's commitment to the policy of opening-up and adherence to market-oriented reform.

China is willing to learn from advanced technologies and management practices and to continue extensive cooperation with other countries to safeguard world stability and development, Li said.

Foreign direct investment on the Chinese mainland, in actual use, reached 1.23 trillion yuan ($182.13 billion) last year, a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce. In a notice issued on Wednesday, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said foreign investment in establishing research and development centers in the country is encouraged.

Speaking about the Chinese economy's performance in the past year, Li said in the face of headwinds the nation has maintained employment and price stability and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's economy grew 3 percent year-on-year to a record high of 121.02 trillion yuan in 2022. The figure is higher than the 2.2 percent GDP growth in 2020.

Last year, China created over 12 million jobs in cities and townships, with the urban unemployment rate standing at 5.5 percent, Li said, adding that he believes China's economy will accelerate the recovery and pick up speed as the government optimizes its COVID response policy.