Ms. Christine Zhenwei Qiang is the Global Director of Digital Core at the Digital Transformation Vice Presidency of the World Bank. She leads a team focused on establishing the foundations and enablers necessary for digital transformation in developing countries, aiming to drive shared prosperity and reduce poverty. Her team advises policymakers and regulators, collaborates with private sector and development partners, and designs investment and technical assistance programs to expand broadband connectivity, strengthen digital safeguards such as cybersecurity and data protection, and harness AI and emerging technologies to tackle development challenges. Additionally, the team works to leverage digital technologies to promote environmental sustainability and close the digital gender gap.
Christine joined the World Bank Group in 1998. Before assuming her current role, she served as the Director of the Digital Development Global Practice, Practice Manager in the Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice for West and Central Africa, Practice Manager of the Global Investment Climate unit in FCI, and Practice Manager of the Global Investment and Competition Unit in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice. She also held the position of Lead Economist at the Policy Division of the Global ICT Department.
During her tenure, Christine edited the first two Global Information and Communications Reports (2006, 2009), and oversaw the publication of the first two Global Investment Competitiveness Reports (2017/18 and 2019/20) as well as the first two Digital Trends and Policies Reports (2023 and 2025). She has authored many journal articles, book chapters, reports and blogs on topics including AI, cybersecurity, broadband investment, private sector development, IT-enabled services, trade, foreign direct investment, competition, regulatory reforms, productivity and competitiveness.
Christine holds a Ph.D. in Economics and a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University.