BEIJING - China attracted some 3 million foreign experts during the five-year period from 2011 to 2015, an official said in Beijing on Tuesday.

This is an increase of 30 percent from the 2006-2010 period, said Zhang Jianguo, director of the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs at a work conference.

The country will recruit more high-caliber talent to help economic and social development, said Zhang.

A total of 313 foreign experts have been invited to China since the country launched a recruitment program dubbed the "1,000 plan" in 2011.

China has also relaxed its visa policies and improved protection of foreign experts' legitimate interests to attract more overseas talent.