BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim here on Monday and pledged to deepen cooperation with the Washington-based agency, according to a press release issued by the Chinese government on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Li praised the cooperation between the World Bank and China, saying the key to advancing the recovery of the world economy was to address the issue of development.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) talks with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim in Beijing on Monday.[Photo/Xinhua]

China is happy to see the World Bank play a bigger role in helping developing countries and reducing poverty, and is ready to work together with the agency to resolve problems regarding global development and to instil sustainable driving forces into the world economy.

Li also briefed Kim on China's reforms and development, stressing the significance of innovation, not only in technology, but also in ideas, systems and mechanisms, said the release.

For his part, Kim said the World Bank admires Chinese government's resolve in pushing reform and appreciates the government's measures taken in this regard.

The World Bank is willing to cooperate with China more closely to endorse the country's economic upgrade, Kim was quoted as saying.

Kim is visiting China from Sunday to Wednesday to discuss expanding collaboration on climate change, one of the most important challenges facing China and the world currently. It is Kim's second visit to China since taking the helm of the World Bank in July last year.