Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday that China hopes the new chief of World Bank will "hear more" from developing countries and contribute to the world's economic development.

His remarks were made at a regular press conference one day after US President George W. Bush confirmed he had nominated Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as its choice for World Bank president.

"China hopes the new chief of World Bank will exert more substantial efforts to the world development and assistance program, hear more from developing countries, lead the World Bank to contribute more to world development and promote a continuous, balanced and sound economic progress worldwide," Liu said.

Liu said the World Bank, part of the United Nations system and one of the largest inter-governmental financial institutions, has done a lot of beneficial work for the multilateral assistance program and China will maintain contact and cooperation with concerned sides on that aspect.

The United States officially nominated Wolfowitz to replace World Bank President James Wolfensohn, which has been confirmed by the World Bank on Wednesday.

The United States is the World Bank's biggest shareholder. Since its establishment in 1945, the bank traditionally has had an American president.

President Wolfensohn is stepping down as head of the 184-nation development bank on June 1 at the end of his second five-year term.