BEIJING, February 22, 2012 – World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick will visit China from February 26 to 28, to help present a major joint report examining China’s economic opportunities and challenges to the year 2030.
Zoellick will attend and address a high-level conference on February 27 to launch a joint study called “China 2030: Building a Modern, Harmonious and Creative High Income Society” .
“To successfully negotiate its path over the next two decades, China has the opportunity to build on its strengths – its people and savings – to meet structural growth challenges within and abroad,” Zoellick said.
“The report lays out recommendations for a development growth path for the medium term, helping China make the transition to become a high income society.”
The report, jointly prepared by the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council of China and the World Bank, examines China’s strategic choices towards 2030 and makes recommendations on the future structure of China’s growth model. The conference will be attended by noted Chinese and international economists, ministers of some middle income countries including India, Russian and South Africa, and Chinese officials from central and local government.
Zoellick will also meet with state leaders to exchange views on global issues, the future directions of China’s continued reform and development, and the evolving partnership with the Bank for the future.
Before arriving in Beijing, Zoellick will visit Guangzhou to discuss with provincial leaders how the Bank can assist Guangdong with its industrial upgrading and restructuring efforts.
After completing the program in Beijing, Zoellick will make a one-day trip to Inner Mongolia to meet with provincial leaders to better understand the development challenges and opportunities faced by this resource abundant interior province, and discuss possible Bank support.
It is Zoellick’s sixth official visit to China since becoming World Bank President in July 2007.
