>>Asia urged to build new engines of growth

The same day, ADB governors held the second plenary session themed “Regional Infrastructure Development for Asia's Connectivity: Current Progress, Challenges, and Ways Ahead”.

Asia led continents in economic recovery from the global financial crisis but it is still confronted with a number of challenges, arising from increasing consumer prices followed by inflation and unequal income in the region. Many countries are not able to fulfill millennium development goals.

The Governor of the Portuguese Central Bank, F.Teixeira dos Santos said promoting ADB’s role requires effective mobilization of resources, increased contributions by strong economies in the region and improved quality of growth so that all people can get benefit.

Mongolian Governor Bayartsogt Sangajav affirmed that ADB should help its members overcome the crisis by providing finance through the Asian Development Fund (ADF).

Luxemburg Governor Luc Frieden said ADB should give assistance and advice to both financial and non-financial sectors. It should also increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as supervision and responsibility.

The Dutch Governor, Jan van Riebeeck, said ADB should support the poorest rural areas and ethnic minority groups in the world in seeking employment and gender equality, and devise measures to help the poorest countries enjoy the fruits of cooperation.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, ADB president H.Kuroda praised the role of Vietnam in playing the host of the meeting.

Kuroda emphasized that Asia will continue to face challenges such as price hikes and inflation which threaten the results of economic recovery and poverty reduction. He proposed that countries mobilise resources to cope with climate change and natural disasters. He said developing green economy and new energy and using water resources properly will accelerate sustainable development.