BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met Wednesday with Petteri Taalas, the new secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The two agreed to deepen meteorological cooperation.

Taalas is the director general of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. He was elected the new chief of the WMO during its quadrennial congress in Geneva on June 4.

Taalas will replace the organization's veteran secretary-general Michel Jarraud, who is stepping down next year after three four-year terms.