Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated Israel Epstein, a well-known foreign expert who has lived and worked in China for 70 years, on the occasion of his 88th birthday on Sunday.

Wen visited Epstein at his apartment in Beijing Sunday morning. He praised Epstein as a "true comrade" and "sincere friend" of the Chinese people as he has always been fully confident in the Communist Party of China (CPC) and in the revolution and construction of China.

The Chinese premier said China and the Chinese people will always remember the contribution of foreign experts to China's revolution and construction. He thanked the foreign experts on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

Wen wished Epstein good health, longevity and a happy life. He listened to Epstein's suggestions on the work concerning foreign experts in China, and then asked the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and other relevant departments to create better working and living conditions for foreign experts in China.

Epstein thanked the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for their care for foreign experts in China. He sent his books, including the Collection of Epstein's Selected Works, to Wen.

Epstein, born in Poland, participated in China's revolution in the 1930s. He changed his nationality and became a Chinese citizen in 1957. Since 1983, he has been a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

As a well-known journalist and writer, he has written a large number of news reports and articles about China's revolution and construction. His suggestions and opinions about the work of the CPC and the State Council have been greatly valued.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2003)