Jim Yong Kim, U.S. nominee to be president of the World Bank,

Jim Yong Kim, U.S. nominee to be president of the World Bank, met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan in Shaoxing, China, as part of a global tour to solicit “priorities and ideas” for the bank’s future, according to a statement from the U.S. Treasury.

Kim, a physician and specialist on HIV/AIDS, discussed “how the World Bank can promote the rapid development and poverty alleviation achieved by China and South Korea throughout the developing world,” yesterday’s statement said. “Dr. Kim also reiterated his belief in the importance of a strong voice for emerging economies in the World Bank.”

President Barack Obama proposed Dartmouth College President Kim, who would be the first Asian-American to head the body.

The World Bank plans to pick its new president April 16 after interviewing the three candidates for the post the previous week, according to three officials at the lender’s board.

Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is scheduled to meet the 25-person board April 9, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the dates haven’t been made public. Former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo is to be interviewed on April 10, followed by Kim on April 11, the officials said.

Source Bloomberg.com