Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (R) meets with World Bank President Robert Zoellick (L) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 15, 2010. [Xinhua]

China on Wednesday urged the World Bank (WB) to actively promote the formulation of new international economic rules and standards, and give more say and presence to developing nations.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan made the remarks in a meeting with visiting World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

The international financial crisis provided an opportunity for international financial reform, and an increased say for developing countries in major international financial organizations was an important step, said Wang.

In April, an agreement was reached among the World Bank members to increase the voting share of emerging and developing countries by 3.13 percent to the current total of 47.19 percent.

As a result of the agreement, China, a WB aid recipient in the past, has become the WB's third biggest shareholder, increasing its share from 2.77 percent to 4.42 percent.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China-WB cooperation.

"China and the World Bank should continue to strengthen cooperation, so as to contribute to the development and poverty reduction of China and the world," Wang said.

Wang also stressed the importance of development as a priority for China.

He said China was a developing country with a huge population. It needed to transform its mode of development, adjust economic structure and achieve coordinated development among different areas, people and the environment.

Zoellick spoke highly of the achievements China had made in its reform and opening up, adding the WB will continue to support China's modernization and national development.

On Tuesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao also met with Zoellick.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2010)