OREANDA-NEWS. October 3, 2011. 17 foreign experts were given 2011 Huangshan Friendship Award, learned by the reporter. Zhang Baoshun attended the ceremony and Huang Haisong gave a speech.

Huangshan Friendship Award, set up in 1995, is Anhui's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to Anhui's economic and social progress.

Congratulating the award-winners, Huang Haisong said that more and more foreign experts come to Anhui and they have made indispensable contribution to Anhui's fast and sound development. He said, since China started reform and opening up 30 years ago, the talent-attracting proceedings had been well established. In this context, the talented foreign experts had "become an important force in Anhui's modernization".

"Anhui will adhere to the opening up policy, actively introduce talents from abroad, and promote international cooperation,Huang said. "Anhui sincerely welcomes foreign experts, overseas Chinese specialists and international friends to make contribution to Anhui's development in any form."

He also pledged to create better working conditions for them and protect their legitimate rights.