A Chinese government official said on Friday that former US deputy secretary of state Robert Zoellick would help enable the World Bank to carry out its duties if he were to become the bank's president.

"As an international figure, Mr. Zoellick has rich experience in international communication," a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Finance said.

The remarks came in response to a question concerning Zoellick's nomination as the next president of the World Bank.

The spokesperson said as the largest global development financial institution, the World Bank has the responsibility of pushing forward international development and eradicating poverty.

It has always been an important concern of China, a major shareholder and borrower country, to guarantee the World Bank could effectively carry out its responsibilities, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the shareholder countries shared a common responsibility to select a right president, a post that plays an important role in the implementation of the World Bank's duties.

U.S. President George W. Bush on May 30 nominated Zoellick to lead the World Bank, replacing outgoing bank President Paul Wolfowitz.

As Bush's first trade chief, Zoellick, 53, played a leading role in efforts to revive the Doha round of world trade talks. He later served as deputy secretary of state and has widespread experience of and high-level contacts in Europe, China, Latin America and Africa.

He left the government last year to join investment bank Goldman Sachs.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)