The Secretary-General congratulates Dr. Jim Yong Kim on his appointment as the 12th President of the World Bank.   Dr. Kim brings to the Bank the mix of professional development expertise and personal commitment required to advance the global development agenda at this difficult time.  A pioneer in the struggle to address HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and with an extensive track record as an institutional reformer, Dr. Kim has long emphasized empowerment, grass-roots action and holistic approaches that put people first.  The Secretary-General looks forward to working closely with him on efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and promote sustainable development, and assures him of the UN system’s full support.
 
            The Secretary-General would also like to thank Mr. Robert Zoellick for his dedicated service over the past five years.   At a time of crisis for the world economy, Mr. Zoellick forged strong partnerships with developing countries and other multilateral institutions in addressing common challenges.  He brought greater transparency to the Bank and the development process.   And under his guidance, the Bank has made significant contributions to the development debate, including through its flagship World Development Reports addressing key issues such as food security, climate change, gender equity and the links among conflict, security and development.   The Secretary-General thanks Mr. Zoellick for these and many other contributions and offers best wishes for his future endeavours.