A Chinese government official said on Friday that former US
deputy secretary of state Robert Zoellick would help enable the
World Bank to carry out its duties if he were to become the bank's
president.
"As an international figure, Mr. Zoellick has rich experience in
international communication," a spokesperson of China's Ministry of
Finance said.
The remarks came in response to a question concerning Zoellick's
nomination as the next president of the World Bank.
The spokesperson said as the largest global development
financial institution, the World Bank has the responsibility of
pushing forward international development and eradicating
poverty.
It has always been an important concern of China, a major
shareholder and borrower country, to guarantee the World Bank could
effectively carry out its responsibilities, the spokesperson
said.
The spokesperson said the shareholder countries shared a common
responsibility to select a right president, a post that plays an
important role in the implementation of the World Bank's
duties.
U.S. President George W. Bush on May 30 nominated Zoellick to
lead the World Bank, replacing outgoing bank President Paul
Wolfowitz.
As Bush's first trade chief, Zoellick, 53, played a leading role
in efforts to revive the Doha round of world trade talks. He later
served as deputy secretary of state and has widespread experience
of and high-level contacts in Europe, China, Latin America and
Africa.
He left the government last year to join investment bank Goldman
Sachs.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)