Zhu noted that Wolfensohn had visited the western part of the country during his current China trip, which was fruitful. He said Wolfensohn's visit will help deepen World Bank's understanding of China and will be conducive to the expansion of cooperation between China and the World Bank.

Zhu said China and the World Bank have maintained a good relationship since China resumed its membership in the organization in 1980. He noted that loans provided by the World Bank have contributed greatly to the economic development of China.

He expressed the wish that China would continue to utilize funds from the World Bank, and strengthen exchanges of development experience and management expertise with it.

Wolfensohn said the development of the western areas of China provides broad prospects for cooperation between the World Bank and China. He expressed his willingness to further explore new areas of cooperation with China and make more contributions to the development of the country.

During his visit to China, Wolfensohn inspected World Bank programs in Shanghai, and Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in western China. He also attended the opening ceremony of the annual forum of the APEC Finance and Development Program in Beijing.

(People's Daily May 29, 2002)