Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday met with President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Haruhiko Kuroda on the sidelines of the ongoing Third Summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in Vientiane.

The ADB has made great contributions to combating poverty and promoting development in Asia and the GMS for a long time, Wen said.

In the current scenario, as unstable elements and potential risks increase in the international economy, it is even more important to strengthen regional economic cooperation in Asia, Wen emphasized.

It is the common expectation of all GMS countries to realize a people-first development that is mutually beneficial and sustainable, he added.

To meet this end, Wen said he hopes the ADB will provide stronger fund and technical support, adding that China is willing to expand cooperation with the ADB and join hands with it to facilitate the sustainable and stable growth of the regional economy.

For his part, Kuroda said the ADB highly commends China's support and active involvement in the GMS' development.

The ADB wishes to continue to reinforce cooperation with China to alleviate poverty and boost economic and social development in the GMS, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2008)