Jim Yong Kim visits China as part of World Bank nomination tour (VIDEO)
President Obama announces the nomination of Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim (2nd L) for president of the World Bank, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) stands beside him, March 23, 2012 in Washington, DC. Kim, who is seen as a surprise pick, is a Korean born physician prominent in global health circles.
Jim Yong Kim, US nominee to be president of the World Bank, has met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan in Shaoxing, China, as part of his world tour to drums up support for his candidacy, Bloomberg reported.
The Korean-American physician, a specialist on HIV/AIDS, wants to solicit ‘‘priorities and ideas’’ for the bank’s future, according to a statement from the US. Treasury.
Kim, also the Dartmouth College President, is favorite to lead the bank given the US candidate traditionally gets the post, Agence France-Presse wrote.
More from GlobalPost: Jim Yong Kim, Dartmouth College president, nominated to be World Bank head
His rivals to replace Robert Zoellick, whose term ends June 30, are Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo.
The World Bank plans to pick its new president April 16 after interviewing the three candidates.
Beijing has not officially backed any candidate, according to AFP.
Kim, who would be the first Asian-American to head the body, is best known for his AIDS treatment program at the World Health Organization.
He heads next to Tokyo, Seoul — his birthplace — New Delhi, Brussels, Brasilia and Mexico.
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