Beijing, September 10, 2010 - World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick is visiting China from 9 to 15 September, 2010 – his fourth official visit to the country since becoming Bank President in July, 2007.
Among the key priorities of the visit will be to join with Chinese counterparts to mark the 30th anniversary of the China-World Bank Group relationship. China and the World Bank have been partners in development since April 1980 when the then Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and the World Bank President of the time, Robert McNamara first met in Beijing.
Since that time, the World Bank has worked closely with China to help it achieve its modernization goals, to overcome poverty, to grow its economy and to work towards a socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable society.
Mr Zoellick will address the China-World Bank Group Conference on a Partnership for Harmonious Development in Beijing on September 13. The conference will be attended by senior Chinese officials as well as many former Bank staff and Chinese officials who played key roles in China’s early and more recent development.
While in China, Mr Zoellick also visited Shanghai including the Shanghai Expo 2010. From Shanghai, he traveled to Guizhou Province where he will visit World Bank-financed cultural heritage, transport and watershed rehabilitation project sites. He will also meet students and faculty at the Guizhou Normal University – among a range of other meetings with local officials.
In Beijing, Mr Zoellick – who said he sees the visit as an opportunity to “listen and learn” - plans to meet with senior leaders to discuss China’s role in the global economy and how the World Bank can support China in its efforts to address new and emerging challenges.
