URUMQI: China is poised to work with Central Asian countries under a regional economic co-operation programme to develop the area's infrastructure and enhance its investment environment, a senior Chinese official said on Friday.

"China stands ready to work with all parties to enhance the investment environment in the region, particularly in key areas such as transport and energy," Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said.

"Rapid economic growth in the (Central Asian) region will not be possible without well-developed infrastructure," Zeng said, adding that China's priority will be establishing a functional road, rail and air transport network in the region.

He made the remarks at the 5th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation (CAREC), a one-day meeting in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1997 as a regional economic co-operation framework, CAREC aims to alleviate poverty and spur economic development in its member countries through more efficient regional economic collaboration.

Besides China, CAREC currently has seven other member countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The vice-premier announced at the meeting that China will provide US$500,000 to human resources development initiatives under the CAREC programme.

The fifth CAREC ministerial meeting adopted a comprehensive action plan calling on member countries to strengthen momentum and increase the benefits of regional co-operation.

Also at the meeting were six CAREC multinational partners including the ADB, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. They agreed to double their financial and technical support for the CAREC programme over the next three years to US$2.3 billion.