Newly appointed World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz welcomed China's stunning economic development today and said the world should engage with the Chinese even if they disagreed with their politics.
In his first interview since he was confirmed in the job, Mr Wolfowitz told BBC radio that "the goal of poverty reduction is as valid in China as it is elsewhere".
Asked if the World Bank would "attach strings" to its dealings with China to encourage it to embrace democracy, Mr Wolfowitz said: "I don't believe it should."
Critics of Mr Wolfowitz's appointment has said they expect the hawkish US deputy defence secretary to make more demands on recipient countries than his predecessors, insisting they make democratic reforms in exchange for World Bank help.
Mr Wolfowitz said his critics would find him a capable leader. "I'm very prepared to listen, I'm very prepared to be an international civil servant," he said.