Vice President for WBI, the World Bank Group, Frannie A. Leautier
delivered an opening speech at the InfoDev Symposium 2002 in
Chongqing on December 9, 2002. The full text of her speech follows:
Vice Ministers, Vice Mayors,
I
am extremely delighted to be here at the opening of the infoDev
Annual Symposium. Holding it in Chongqing, a city over 32 millions
people in the western part of China, is an indication of the
progress China has made in the last two decades.
Ladies and gentlemen, the investment to take information and
communication technologies far and wide in this country, and in
making the requisite investment in transport and logistics are
major milestones in linking China's various regions to the each
other and to the world.
The development community has recognized the important roles that
ICT and knowledge play in poverty reduction and capacity building,
and the importance of bridging not only the hardware gaps, but to
equip people with the skills and opportunities to create, access,
and use technology and knowledge well.
The partnership between the World Bank Group (WBG) and China has
been long and fruitful. The WBG has worked with China as it
invested in the infrastructure sectors, where lending was critical.
Today, the Bank works with China in lending, knowledge, and
analytic services, accommodating the shifting development needs of
the country. China represents the Bank's largest portfolio, with
over 100 on-going projects, some 50% larger than the next tier of
borrowers. Since the beginning of the Bank's involvement in China,
knowledge analytic services have played a critical role in the
relationship. Hence it is very appropriate to hold the infoDev
symposium in China, one of the countries where the Bank's
partnership in ICT and knowledge is strong.
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to communicate with China
through the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), China was
talking to Washington, Vietnam, Tanzania, Poland and Barbados, just
to name a few. This would not have been possible 5 years ago.
Through a combination of distance learning technologies, including
2-way videoconferencing, broadcast TV, and the Internet, Chinese
policy makers and enterprise managers can gain access to the latest
global knowledge on issues such as international market conditions,
management techniques, transport finance, and production techniques
just to name a few. China can also share its knowledge with the
rest of the world.
I
am pleased to note that the WBI has been working with colleagues in
other parts of the Bank and with partners in China to capitalize on
this opportunity.
Most notably by connecting China to the Global Development Learning
Network (GDLN), as I mentioned earlier, there are now 40 GDLN
Distance Learning Centers currently operational, with 32 in
developing countries, and they delivered 259 programmes in FY02,
most of them content developed and delivered with partners.
There are currently three operational GDLN centers in China one at
the World Bank Office in Beijing, one at Ningxia University in
Yinchuan, and one at the Guizhou School of Administration in
Guiyang. The Ningxia center was made possible by the support from
the Australian government.
We
are currently working with the Government of China to further
expand coerage to all of China's Western Region and to selected
minority areas. A key partner in this effort is the China Education
and Research Network (CERNET), which is providing the connectivity
to link the new distance learning centers to the global
network.
We
are already using these centers for delivery of learning programs
that that are specifically related to trade and development,
including courses on WTO issues, infrastructure finance, insurance
supervision, and credit ratings, to name a few. We are also working
with partners in China such a Tsinghua University to adapt our
programs to China's needs, and for delivery through their own
distance learning networks.
For example, we have planned a number of trade programmes (For
China: two DL courses on globalization and sustainable development
for the Western Province; Course on fiscal implications of WTO
accession) aimed at local analytical capacity building for
developing countries to represent their interest successfully in
global arenas such as WTO and in order to design policies and
institutions to support trade, and targeted at policy makers,
technical advisers and negotiators.
Of
course, such infoDev funded initiatives as "New Information Tools
for Industrial Pollution Control in China" is an impressive example
of how the collaboration between the State Environmental Protection
Administration (SEPA) in China and infoDev made a difference at the
local level in making the information on pollution publicly
available, and the lessons being replicated within the country.
These are just small specific examples of what we are doing with
China, and we look forward to further strengthening this type of
development capacity building partnership made possible by ICT
facilitating knowledge acquisition and learning that leads to
poverty reduction. The World Bank is keen to work with you, assist
you, and learn from you all.
(China.org.cn December 10, 2002)