Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday that China would borrow more overseas talents for the country's modernization.

Wen made the remarks while meeting with veteran foreign experts who have worked in China for many years. On behalf of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the State Council, Wen sent his warm greetings to those experts and their families as the Chinese lunar new year draws near.

"Borrowing talents from the outside is of the same importance as attracting investment and advanced technologies," Wen said.

China also plans to better its laws and regulations on how to attract more overseas talents, he said.

"Those outstanding overseas professionals would be granted honors as well as monetary awards," Wen said.

Wen asked the State Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs to be a conduit to higher offices in order to relay complaints and advice from those veteran experts.

Wen thanked the experts for their devotion to the Chinese cause of revolution and economic construction in the past decades.

He said the Chinese people would always remember their goodwill and contributions.

In briefing the experts on the domestic situation, Wen said that the year of 2003 was extraordinary and significant for China.

The Chinese have succeeded in fighting against SARS and made new achievements in reform and opening-up, Wen said.

He also said 2004 is vital for China's future development.

"We're faced with many opportunities and favorable conditions as well as difficulties and new challenges," Wen said.

"We have to keep our clear minds in dealing with those problems," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2004)