Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with foreign experts working in China prior to the Lunar Chinese New Year, in Beijing, capital of China, on January 20, 2017 (XINHUA)

China will continue to promote a new round of higher-level opening up to the outside world, Premier Li Keqiang said.

The statement came as Li had a discussion with over 70 foreign experts working in China prior to the Lunar Chinese New Year, which falls on January 28 this year.

Stressing that China's development is "an open development," Li said China firmly supports the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and will continue to expand market access, absorb foreign investment, and learn advanced technology and management experience.

The premier said China will create market and legal environment that is open and transparent, fair, orderly and predictable to become a preferred destination for foreign investment.

"The fundamental driving force of China's economic and social development comes from reform and opening up," said Li.

China will continue to forge ahead with governmental reforms to balance the government-market relationship, step up efforts to simplify administrative procedures and delegate power to lower levels, he said.

"We will give full play to everyone's wisdom and creativity, generate new momentum for development, speed up innovation in the primary, secondary and tertiary industries and modernize traditional industries," the premier said.

A total of 72 experts attended the meeting, during which Li listened to advice and suggestions from four experts on issues concerning nurturing talent, innovation, intelligent manufacturing and vocational education, and on how to elevate the influence of China's story.

The four experts were Sir James Fraser Stoddart, Nobel laureate and professor at U.S. Northwestern University and China's Tianjin University; Sune Roland Svanberg, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and professor at South China Normal University; Olaf Kastner, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China; and Erik Nilsson, China Daily journalist.

Li said China's economy grew 6.7 percent in 2016 and contributed over 30 percent to the world economy growth amid intensified domestic and international downward pressure, adding that foreign experts had contributed to these achievements as well.

"We have the confidence, condition and capability to maintain this momentum in the new year," Li said.

He said China welcomed talent from all over the world and would give more support in areas such as entry and residence, project application, research resources and intellectual property protection.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2017)