China will accelerate the opening up of various scientific and technological programs to foreign experts and encourage them to lead and take part in such programs, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday.

Li's remark came as he met with this year's 100 recipients of the Friendship Award and their family members. The Friendship Award is given annually by the Chinese government to honor outstanding foreign experts in China.

He reiterated China's commitment to continue expanding international cooperation in science and technology, saying that more will be done to promote the opening up and sharing of related infrastructure, facilities, data and resources.

Li also vowed to adopt more proactive, open and effective talent policies, with efforts to explore more efficient visa mechanisms for talented foreigners and to offer more convenience to them in their lives and work in China.

China will step up the protection of intellectual property rights and bring its business environment in line with market principles, the rule of law and international standards, he said.

China owes its tremendous achievements over the past 70 years to the hard work of its own people, but the cause has also received support and help from foreign experts and friends, he said.

The premier also gave credit to foreign experts for bringing leading technologies, experience and management to China, saying that the Chinese people will not forget their important contributions.

China remains the world's largest developing country and will unwaveringly push forward reform and opening-up and manage its own affairs properly, he said.

It will also accept its responsibility as a major developing country and work with different countries to safeguard world peace, narrow the gap between developing and developed countries and enable win-win outcomes, he added.

Li also met with 41 newly-appointed ambassadors of foreign countries and representatives of international organizations to China on Monday.

China stands ready to work with different countries and international organizations to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the World Trade Organization-centered multilateral trading system, Li said.