OREANDA-NEWS. September 16, 2013. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will visit China from September 15 to 18, focusing on expanding collaboration on one of the most important challenges facing China and the world today – climate change.

The president’s first stop will be Shanghai, a city of more than 23.5 million people, which has set firm commitments to low carbon growth. While in Shanghai, Kim will see firsthand how the Bank Group 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. Kim will also discuss with World Bank Group banking clients the role financial institutions play in supporting small and medium enterprises and building energy efficiency in Shanghai.

“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,” Kim said. “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.”

 “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,” Kim said. “China’s pursuit of green growth and its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be crucial for addressing climate change.”

 Kim will also visit Beijing for meetings with state leaders to deepen the partnership between the Bank Group and China.

In Beijing, Kim will discuss China’s future urbanization challenges, which link directly to the climate change agenda.  At the request of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the World Bank Group and the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) are working on a joint study to develop a new model of urbanization for China.

“There’s a clear connection between China’s rapid urbanization and the environment. More people means rising demand for energy and water,” Kim said. “The Bank is working to help China look at ways to deal with the challenges to ensure its future urbanization strategies are efficient, sustainable and inclusive.”

This is Kim’s second visit to China since becoming World Bank Group President in July last year. Jin-Yong Cai, IFC’s Executive Vice President and CEO, will join Kim for the visit.