Vice-Premier Ma Kai conferred medals to foreign experts working in China and praised their contribution to the country’s development, at the 2016 Friendship Award ceremony in Zhongnanhai in Beijing on Sept 29.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Ma expressed warm congratulations to 50 foreign experts from 18 countries and sent greetings to their families.

“China welcomes foreign experts to create a better future with Chinese people as the nation is implementing its 13th Five-Year Plan,” he said.

The Friendship Award is the country’s top honor for foreign experts who work in China and make outstanding contributions to China’s modernization.