WB to cooperate with China on urbanization, climate

DAVOS, Switzerland - The World Bank is looking forward to deepening cooperation with China in the fields of urbanization and climate change, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has told Xinhua during the annual World Economic Forum (WEF).

Urbanization would be "very important" for the future growth of China, and the World Bank has launched joint research with China on urbanization to help developing countries deal with the continuing massive influx of people into cities, Kim told Xinhua in an exclusive interview Saturday.

He highlighted the World Bank's partnership with China, citing the collaboration for "China 2030" report as an example, which is "a very forward-looking vision for what could happen over the next 15 years."

He stressed that the World Bank considers China as "one of our most important partners in specially tackling the issues like urbanization and climate change."

"The hundred largest cities in the world contribute about 70 percent of the emissions. If we can get green growth right in cities, that would be a huge part of attacking climate change," Kim said.

"I'm very pleased that China wants to be in the lead on this one," he added.

On the recent heavy smog and worsening air pollution choking some big cities in China, Kim said "Chinese government was very much aware of this problem," which he believed is the reason why "the first thing Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang talked was about urbanization" in a meeting with him last November.

Kim also said the World Bank has worked with China on many projects of rural development. The World Bank always stresses the importance of the balanced approach to development and "the Chinese leadership are also very focused on going forward with the rural development," he said.