Chinese in top job at World Bank

In June Justin Lin Yifu, a Beijing professor, will take up the post of chief economist at the World Bank. Nothing could be a clearer sign of the times. This is the number two job in one of the two major international economic institutions, the other being the International Monetary Fund.

Earlier incumbents have included the Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, the former US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers and the UK's Nicholas Stern. Previously the top jobs in these two outfits have always been shared between Americans and Europeans.

Lin's appointment thus marks a major break with political tradition. Hitherto there has been hardly any appointment of a Chinese to a senior position in the major international organizations. China's burgeoning importance, however, is set to change this state of affairs, with Lin's appointment likely to set the tone for the future.