World Bank's Future

"The fight against climate change and the advancement of renewable energies must become central tasks for the World Bank," Wiezoreck-Zeul said after meeting with Zoellick in Berlin.

Wieczorek-Zeul, who was one of the leading voices calling for previous World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to stand down, praised Zoellick for his international experience and negotiating talent.

"I am certain that he fulfills all the requirements for the post of World Bank president," Wieczorek-Zeul said.

The veteran trade negotiator, who previously served in the US State Department, was nominated two weeks ago to replace fellow American Wolfowitz, who resigned after weeks of uproar over the generous pay and promotions package he arranged for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza.

Zoellick said he was confident he can overcome the "period of turmoil" caused by the scandal surrounding the bank's former head.

"There is no doubt that the institution has been through a period of turmoil and I think that one of the tasks of a new president will be to try to calm the waters," Zoellick said.

"I think the best way to do that, to start, is by tapping the incredible expertise and knowledge and perspective on some of the issues."

Making Africa a priority

Wiezoreck-Zeul also urged Zoellick to make Africa a priority if, as is widely expected, he is elected to the top job at the development institution.

Pressure groups have criticized the $60-billion (45-billion-euro) pledge to fight disease in Africa announced at last week's Group of Eight summit in Germany as insufficient and proof that the world's richest nations were failing the poor because most of the money had already been included in earlier pledges.

But Zoellick said that after a day of discussions with officials in Berlin, "I came away with the sense that there has certainly been no lessening of the commitment to African development on the part of Europe."

"There is a very strong interest in Europe about African development," he added.

Listen and learn

On visits to South Africa and Ghana in recent days he had wanted to "listen and learn" and had been struck by the ability and vision of many of Africa's leaders, he said.

Zoellick also urged trade chiefs to try to find a solution in the Doha Round of talks on breaking down barriers to world trade.

Ministers from four key trading powers -- Brazil, the European Union, India and the United States -- are due to meet in the German city of Potsdam next week to try to kickstart the stalled five-year-old round of talks.

A breakthrough would be "extraordinarily important for the world economy, for development, for growth, for creating opportunities," Zoellick said.

"I believe there is a deal that can be put together and it involves the elimination of agricultural export subsidies ... that distort trade, something that heavily involves the US, Europe but some others, Canada and Japan."

Berlin was Zoellick's last stop on a trip to several European Union countries. He was to travel on to Norway, Mexico and Brazil.