Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated Israel Epstein, a
well-known foreign expert who has lived and worked in China for 70
years, on the occasion of his 88th birthday on Sunday.
Wen visited Epstein at his apartment in Beijing Sunday morning. He
praised Epstein as a "true comrade" and "sincere friend" of the
Chinese people as he has always been fully confident in the
Communist Party of China (CPC) and in the revolution and
construction of China.
The Chinese premier said China and the Chinese people will always
remember the contribution of foreign experts to China's revolution
and construction. He thanked the foreign experts on behalf of the
CPC Central Committee and the State Council.
Wen wished Epstein good health, longevity and a happy life. He
listened to Epstein's suggestions on the work concerning foreign
experts in China, and then asked the State Administration of
Foreign Experts Affairs and other relevant departments to create
better working and living conditions for foreign experts in
China.
Epstein thanked the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for
their care for foreign experts in China. He sent his books,
including the Collection of Epstein's Selected Works, to Wen.
Epstein, born in Poland, participated in China's revolution in the
1930s. He changed his nationality and became a Chinese citizen in
1957. Since 1983, he has been a member of the Standing Committee of
the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference.
As
a well-known journalist and writer, he has written a large number
of news reports and articles about China's revolution and
construction. His suggestions and opinions about the work of the
CPC and the State Council have been greatly valued.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2003)