BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with a group of foreign members of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) Friday in Beijing.

During the meeting, Wen expressed his appreciation to the members for their long-term concerns and support to China's environmental protection and development drive.

He also said he greatly cherished the friendship with the members, who are in Beijing to attend the CCICED's annual meeting.

CCICED, established in 1992, is an environment consulting body composed of officials and experts from home and abroad to provide policy advice to the Chinese government.