New World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz on Saturday reiterated his agency's commitment to help Africa before he wrapped up his maiden tour to the world's poorest continent.

After a meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki, Wolfowitz said he had a stronger sense that Africa has to be the priority of the World Bank because "there is a real opportunity here."

"The more I traveled in Africa in these six days, the more I felt that sense of opportunity and what I call the can-do attitude, " he told a press conference in Pretoria.

He described Africans, whether poor farmers, schools teachers or government ministers he met during his tour to four African countries, as "talented, energetic and confident people" being ready to tackle huge problems in the continent.

"I know I have a lot of work to do with Africa," Wolfowitz said, adding that he will do the best he can to help.

"Africa is on the move. I feel like it is on the move and I hope the World Bank can help it move faster," he said.

Mbeki said he had a broad discussion with Wolfowitz to focus on challenges of Africa's development and to look at what practical things need to be done.

Wolfowitz, who arrived in South Africa later Friday, also held private meeting with the country's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Saturday morning. He also visited former president Nelson Mandela and had a round-table meeting with private sectors in fields like mining and banking, the World Bank spokeswoman Mallory Saleson said.

South Africa was Wolfowitz's fourth and last leg of his maiden African tour since he took over the bank on June 1. He also traveled to Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Rwanda.

Wolfowitz's priority of his Africa trip was to listen and learn from African leaders about how their continent can make greater strides in reducing poverty.

Shortly after he became the bank's chief at the beginning of this month, he said the world might be at an extraordinary moment in history to turn Africa into a continent of hope, and that Africa was the bank's priority.

Wolfowitz on Sunday began his tour in Nigeria where he expressed hope that Africa will start turning the corner during his tenure and that next month's Group of Eight summit of rich industrialized countries will unlock aid for the continent.

He said greater international assistance, fewer agricultural subsidies and better governance are the keys to raising the standard of living on the world's poorest continent.

With 334 projects and commitments of 16.6 billion US dollars, the World Bank is the largest provider of development assistance to Africa, according to the bank's official website.

Source: Xinhua