SINGAPORE, Nov 13 — When finance ministers from the Asian Pacific region were asked to describe the global economy in one word or sentence, most of them weren’t quite pithy enough.
So Reuters has decided to help them boil the answers down into one, collective statement that strangely enough comes out sounding somewhat like a Central Bank pronouncement:
“Improving recovery and cooperation is providing stability as work on restructuring continues but bumps leave uncertainties and difficulties for the family. Do homework cautiously, for better hope of ‘sustainabilised’ recovery after the world’s trip to the dentist. Ditto.”
And their full answers?
Australia: (inaudible)
Brunei: I agree with my Australian colleague. We’ve seen some good recovery and it seems to be a positive turn of events.
Canada: Stability.
Indonesia: Restoring confidence but a lot of homework still to be done.
Hong Kong: There are still uncertainties ahead.
Malaysia: I see the present situation as cautiously optimistic. We see signs of recovery but still a lot of uncertainties.
Singapore: Let’s focus on restructuring, moving forward and achieving new growth for the region as a whole.
New Zealand: We’re on the way to recovery but there will be some bumps.
Philippines: Improving but still have a lot of work to do.
Taiwan: We are family so we must work together to make the Apec community more prosperous and harmonised.
Thailand: Ditto.
US: that was my word! Better.
Vietnam: Recovering but there are still difficulties.
Russia: Hope for improvement.
Peru: Continues to restore confidence.
Papua New Guinea: Improving.
Mexico: Improving.
South Korea: Cooperation and coordination.
Japan: I hope for stability and development.
China: Recovery but not sustainabilised.
Chile: It’s like going to the dentist. it hurts a lot but you know you are investing for the future. So the world went to the dentist and we are expecting a better growth situation for tomorrow. — Reuters
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