WB head to discuss climate in China visit

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim speaks at a Thomson Reuters Newsmaker event, at Canary Wharf in east London June 19, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - World Bank Group (WBG) President Jim Yong Kim will visit China from September 15 to 18, on expanding collaboration on climate change, one of the most important challenges facing China and the world currently, the Washington-based agency said Thursday.

This would be Kim's second visit to China since taking the helm of the WBG in July last year,

Kim's first stop will be Shanghai, which has set firm commitments to low carbon growth. While in Shanghai, Kim will see firsthand how the WBG and China are joining hands to help the city go green, with an online monitoring platform to measure energy consumption in buildings, by retrofitting buildings to reduce energy use, and plans to pilot a near zero-emission building, the WBG said in a statement.

Kim will also discuss with WBG banking clients the role financial institutions play in supporting small and medium enterprises and enhancing energy efficiency in Shanghai, the statement added.

"The World Bank Group is supporting low-carbon city development in Shanghai, so I'm looking forward to learning about the city's vision for the future. Tackling environmental issues is critical to the future of China's cities, with the country's rapid urbanization expected to triple energy demand over the next 20 years." Kim said.

"China is a key part of the solution to many of the development challenges now facing the world, especially the threat posed by climate change. China's pursuit of green growth and its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be crucial for addressing climate change," he added.

Kim will also visit Beijing for meetings with Chinese leaders to deepen the partnership between the WBG and China.

Cai Jinyong, executive vice president and CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the WBG's private investment arm, will join Kim for the visit.