Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday called for relevant departments to further improve the living and working conditions of overseas talents.

"We are instituting a regulation on improving the working and living situation of overseas talents in China and its draft will be discussed in the State Council later this year," Wen told a gathering of about 30 overseas talents at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

On behalf of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the State Council, China's cabinet, Wen extended Chinese Lunar New Year greetings to foreign experts and their families. 

"Introducing foreign talent is as important as attracting investment and advanced technologies in our opening-up efforts," Wen said.

Wen thanked the experts for their devotion to the Chinese cause of revolution and economic construction in the past. He said the Chinese people will never forget their painstaking efforts and contributions.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2006)