China Expands Role At World Bank

THE WORLD BANK will continue to work actively in China even as the country has developed into a donor to the bank's antipoverty programs in other countries, bank president Robert Zoellick said.

World Bank officials announced last week that China for the first time would become a contributor to the bank's International Development Association, which provides grants and zero-interest loans to the world's poorest countries. Speaking yesterday on his first trip to China since taking the helm at the World Bank, Mr. Zoellick said he expects to work increasingly closely with China both inside that country and in projects overseas, as China's international profile rises.

'Our emphasis is not to reduce cooperation anywhere, but to expand it both within China also with China in third countries,' Mr. Zoellick said at the conclusion of a four-day visit that included meetings with key leaders.

China hasn't disclosed the amount it will donate to the IDA, but Mr. Zoellick said the contribution was 'modest, but also a significant step' for a nation that not long ago was itself a recipient of IDA aid. 'This is an example of China being a stakeholder in the field of development,' he said.

China received more than $9.9 billion in IDA credits between 1981 and 1999, when it ceased being a client. Since 1999, the country has received market-rate loans through the World Bank's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The bank continues to have a sizable operation in China, with projects aimed at improving health care, education, energy use and environmental protection in what this year will likely be the world's third-biggest economy, at currency-exchange rates, after the U.S. and Japan.

'Given China's financial position, it really doesn't need the financial capacity of the World Bank,' Mr. Zoellick said. But, he said, the 'expertise and experience' that comes with bank loans still 'help solve problems.'

'There have been extraordinary accomplishments , but we also know that China is a developing country, still has many poor people, and still has many challenges,' he said. He noted especially the country's environmental problems, saying: 'It's disturbing that there are many places in China where...it's hard to see the sun.'

Mr. Zoellick said his talks in China included plans for joint projects in developing countries in places like Africa. Beijing has been criticized for failing to take sufficient anticorruption measures and other safeguards when it lends heavily to such nations.

'Given China's growth, it's inevitable that China will play a more active role throughout the international economy,' Mr. Zoellick said. But in his meetings he sensed a willingness from Chinese officials to discuss the issues, including transparency and avoiding corruption, he said.

'The focus is, we want to be a good and full partner' to China, and 'to develop a stronger partnership with China' in other developing countries, he said.

世界银行(World Bank)行长佐立克(Robert Zoellick)表示，虽然中国已成长为世界银行扶贫项目的资助国，世界银行仍将继续在中国积极开展工作。

世界银行官员上周宣布，中国将首次成为世行属下负责向全球最贫困国家提供资助和免息贷款的国际开发协会(International Development Association, IDA)的捐资国。佐立克周二在就其上任以来的首次中国之行发表讲话时说，随着中国国际地位的提升，他希望能与中国在其国内外项目上进行更加紧密的合作。

佐立克对中国进行了为期四天的访问，期间他与中国一些重要领导人举行了会晤。他在访问行程即将结束时表示，世行的工作重点不但是不减少与中国在任何方面的合作，而且要扩大与之在国内和第三国项目上的合作。

中国尚未宣布其向IDA的具体捐资额，但佐立克称，对于不久前自己还是接受IDA援助的中国而言，它所捐数额虽然不大，却是其迈出的具有重要意义的一步。这是中国共同担当世界发展的有力例证。

从1981年至1999年中国一直在接受IDA援助，共计获得了99亿美元的援助资金。1999年起中国不再接受该项目的帮助，而是开始通过世界银行旗下的国际复兴和开发银行(International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)以市场利率获得贷款。该行一直在中国大力扶植某些旨在改善中国医疗卫生、教育、能源使用及环保水平的项目。经汇率折算，中国今年有望成为仅次于美国和日本的全球第三大经济体。

佐立克表示，考虑到中国的经济状况，它实际上已不需要世界银行的财力支持了，不过在世界银行贷款发放中所体现的专业意见以及过往经验仍然能为解决问题带来帮助。

佐立克称，中国已经取得非凡的成就，但世界银行认识到中国仍是一个发展中国家，还有很多贫困人口，依旧面临着诸多挑战。他特别提及了中国的环境问题，称中国许多地方阳光都无法穿透污浊的空气，这一点着实令人不安。

佐立克透露，他此行与中方会谈的内容包括与中国在非洲等发展中地区进行项目合作的种种计划。此前中国因为向这些国家提供大量贷款、却又没有充分采取反腐败及其他保障措施而受到批评。

佐立克表示，随着中国的发展，它无疑将在整个国际经济体系中发挥更积极的作用。他还表示，在与中方的会谈中，他感受到了中国领导人愿就加大透明度及防范腐败等问题展开讨论的诚意。

最后佐立克表示，世界银行重点想要与中国建立良好而全面的伙伴关系，并联手中国在其他发展中国家开展更有力的合作。

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