BEIJING - Vice Premier Li Keqiang met on Tuesday with Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the Metlife Inc Steven Kandarian and called for more involvement of US companies in China's economic development.

Li said US invested companies in China had "witnessed, participated in and benefited from" the fast growth of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. China's 12th Five-Year Plan and its economic transformation will bolster the real economy and services such as the finance and insurance, he added.

Li said he hoped Metlife Inc and other transnational enterprises would grasp the opportunity and play an active role in financial and insurance cooperation between China and the United States.

Kandarian said he will continue to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies and promote the development of bilateral ties between the countries.

Founded in 1868, Metlife Inc is a leading provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. The company has 90 million customers worldwide.