BEIJING -  Eight foreign scientists were honored by the Chinese government in its international sci-tech cooperation awards on Friday.

Fabio Rocca, an Italian professor of radar and remote sensing, and German marine geologist Jan Eduard Harff, along with another six experts from the United States, Russia and Canada, were given the awards at a high-level ceremony held annually to honor distinguished scientists and research achievements.

Top Chinese leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, attended the ceremony.

Vice Premier Liu Yandong met with six of the eight award winners after the ceremony, congratulating them and promising that China will enhance international sci-tech cooperation and create a better environment for foreign scientists' work in China.

A total of 87 foreign experts and one international organization have won the award since 1995.