Philippines-US relations

Philippines welcomes US-backed World Bank president

Rappler.com

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Philippines said it hopes to deepen its relationship with the World Bank through newly elected American-Korean Jim Yong Kim

MANILA, Philippines – Philippines said it hopes to deepen its relationship with the World Bank through newly elected American-Korean Jim Yong Kim.

A day after the World Bank announced the result of its board elections, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said Kim, who bested Ngozi Okonjo Iweala from Nigeria for the post, will have the Philippines’s support in the bank’s anti-poverty goals.

“We congratulate Dr. Jim Yong Kim for his election as the new president of World Bank. The Philippines assures Dr. Kim of its continued support to the multilateral agency under his leadership as the Bank moves to ensure that sustainable and inclusive growth is experienced across all nations,” Purisima wrote in a statement on April 18.  

Purisima is essentially reiterating his message in an earlier letter to US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr, expressing support to the US nominee.

Purisima had said Kim’s expertise in the area of health would be very important for the World Bank.

“We are eager to work with Dr. Kim, a development expert and an anthropologist, on strengthening the Bank’s initiatives toward uplifting people’s lives – a mission that Dr. Kim has lived throughout his work in international development.

Kim had served as director of the World Health Organization’s Department of HIV/AIDS and led a program to treat 3 million people infected by the virus in the developing countries.

Stronger ties

“The Philippines and the World Bank group have already achieved significant milestones in eradicating poverty, strengthening governance, and boosting economic growth,” Purisima wrote.

“We hope to further deepen this partnership with the Bank under Dr. Kim’s leadership,” he added.

The Philippines went against the nominee of developing countries, Nobel prize winner and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

The Philippines has strong historical and economic ties with the United States.

This is the first time in the World Bank’s near 70 year history that anyone has ran against the American nominee.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick is stepping down by June 30. – Rappler.com

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