WB presses G-20 aid to poorest countries

World Bank president Robert Zoellick said that he'll press G-20 leaders at a summit this month for more aid to developing countries.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick said on Wednesday that he will press Group of 20 leaders at a summit this month for more aid to developing countries,which he said can help hasten a global recovery.

Developing countries in Africa and elsewhere can help to spur global trade if they get financing to drive investment and consumer spending,Zoellick said. He said he would press that message when the leaders of the United States,Britain,China and other major economies meet September 24-25 in Pittsburgh.

“I would urge the countries at the G-20 to move beyond financial stabilisation to meet the needs of developing countries,” Zoellick said. “China is the example,because China’s growth helps the rest of the world.”

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Zoellick met earlier with Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese officials and said he agreed with them that Beijing should stick with its stimulus,rather than rolling it back as some analysts have suggested.

“China’s actions have helped to prevent the global crisis from getting worse,and I agree with its leaders that it is too early to roll back fiscal and monetary measures,” Zoellick said.

Zoellick said Beijing’s decision to stick to its stimulus should be taken as a “worthy caution” to other governments “because China has been growing pretty well.”