A finance ministry spokesman said Zoellick was a figure of global standing and "has rich experience in international communication," according to the Xinhua news agency.

The spokesman added that shareholder countries of the World Bank shared a common responsibility to select the right president. China is both a major shareholder and borrower from the bank.

Zoellick, the sole candidate for the position following Paul Wolfowitz's controversial resignation, was interviewed Wednesday by the development lender's executive board, a bank official told AFP.

US President George W. Bush announced in late May he had chosen Zoellick, a former US trade chief and deputy secretary of state, to succeed Wolfowitz, who was forced to resign in a favouritism scandal.