KUNMING, July 5 (Xinhuanet) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said hereon Tuesday that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program has played an increasingly important role in economic growth of this region.

    In the world today, the quickening pace of economic globalization and regional integration has made countries more dependent on each other by way of mutually beneficial economic cooperation, said Wen at the opening ceremony of the Second GMS Summit.

    As the economically most dynamic continent in the world, Asia has embraced a number of regional and subregional cooperation programs, he said.

    Thanks to such cooperation that is equal-footed, proactive, pragmatic, diversified, open and inclusive, countries in Asia have enhanced political mutual trust and expanded common interests, adding a new boost to Asia's economic development, the premier noted.

    As far as the GMS is concerned, its member countries sit next to each other and share similar cultures, sound political ties andclose people-to-people contacts, said Wen.

    "All of us are at a critical stage of development," he said. "These have necessitated and enabled our mutually beneficial cooperation."

    Since the inception of the GMS Program, he said, the member countries have conducted cooperation in such areas as transportation, energy, telecommunications, trade, investment, tourism, environment, human resources and agriculture, effectively carried out over 100 specific cooperation programs and completed anumber of flagship projects.

    As a result, it has promoted the economic and social development in the GMS countries, benefited tens of thousands of people, particularly the poor, and contributed to peace in this region and beyond, the premier said. Enditem