ASIA - “Poverty is still the main problem for the continent”, says Asian Development Bank. It is necessary to combine social development with sustainable economic growth

New Delhi (Fides Service) - The main problem in Asia is still poverty, and it is time for every country in Asia to face the question seriously with plans and measures to fight poverty and visible disparity at the social level. This was affirmed by the Asian Development Bank, a major bank on the continent, which funds the governments of various Asian nations working in harmony with multilateral organisations, particular for development of backward areas.
“Our main mission - said ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda at a meeting in Hyderabad, India - is to eradicate poverty, reduce disparity, sustain economic growth and develop disadvantaged areas”. “The face of Asia is changing: today hundreds of millions of people want a better quality of life. The middle class is growing and so is Asia’s role in the international scene ”, the President said.
“But it is also true that if on the one hand prosperity grows, the paradox of the economic boom is that one out of every five Asians has no access to clean water, half the population has no medical care, every year over 4 million children die before they are five” he added.
What is needed is middle and long term interventions, to promote social development, sustainable economy, environment responsibility: this is the way, said Kuroda, to reach Millennium Goals, which include the elimination of poverty.
The ADB president also spoke of the influence of outside factors, such as spreading HIV/AIDS, SARS, avian flu and natural disasters such as floods and tsunamis. Although these elements were obstacles on this path they also strengthened regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific area, an important step forward. (Agenzia Fides 11/5/2006 righe 25 parole 259)