Premier welcomes experts

Green card process may be streamlined

The best award for foreign experts in China - except for the golden badge and invitation to the National Day banquet - may be Premier Li Keqiang's pledge for a streamlined procedure to get a permanent residency permit.

At a meeting on Tuesday, when meeting the 100 foreigners who received this year's Friendship Award - the nation's highest honor for achievement by a foreigner - the premier said the government has decided to reduce the time needed for foreign experts to get a green card in the country.