China hopes for Zoellick to bring development as WB prez

BEIJING: China on Tuesday congratulated Robert Zoellick on his election as the new President of World Bank and hoped that he would contribute to the international cause
of development and poverty eradication.
    
"We hope relations between World Bank and China continue to develop under the leadership of Zoellick," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in response to questions concerning Zoellick's election as new president of World Bank.
    
Qin said China hoped Zoellick could enable the World Bank to carry out its duties and responsibilities, contributing to the international cause of development and poverty
eradication.
    
Zoellick, US President Bush's nominee for president of the World Bank, received the unanimous approval of the World Bank's board on June 25 to succeed Paul Wolfowitz, who was forced to resign amid a scandal over favours to his girlfriend. He will start his five-year term on July 1.
    
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 Bush administration last year to join investment bank Goldman Sachs.