Bush's World Bank pick set for tour

Robert Zoellick, US President George Bush’s choice to run the World Bank, is embarking on a government-paid global tour – hitting Africa, Europe and Latin America – as the United States seeks to mend relationships strained by the rocky tenure of the bank’s outgoing president.

“I want to leave no stone unturned in showing people I am serious,” Mr Zoellick, currently a vice chairman at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, said today.

He said he wanted to reach out to government leaders, financial officials and others about issues facing the poverty-fighting institution and its programmes in the developing world.

“My immediate goal is simple: I want to listen and to learn,” Mr Zoellick said.

Mr Bush last week tapped Mr Zoellick to succeed Paul Wolfowitz, who will step down on June 30.

The selection of Mr Zoellick must be approved by the World Bank’s 24-member board.