126 countries join UN meets on financial crisis

126 countries are taking part in the UN's high-level conference on economic and financial crisis. Developing countries had a clear message at the meeting in New York on Wednesday, requiring more money and more say in financial issues.

In his opening speech, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world is still struggling to overcome the worst financial and economic crisis since the UN was founded over 60 years ago.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, said, "For a large number of countries, there are no "green shoots" of recovery. There are only fallow fields. The real impact of the crisis could stretch for years."

The UN chief backed a plea by poor countries for more financial aid. He says developing countries have been impacted more severely than the richer developed countries which are mainly to blame for the crisis.

Ban Ki-moon said, "The current crisis cannot be an excuse to abandon pledges. Here is an example, by some estimates annual aid to Africa is at least 20 billion dollars below the promises made in Gleneagles in 2005."

The meeting is intended to give developing nations a chance to speak their minds on the global crisis, and to have their voices heard by the world.

The meeting is expected to reach agreement on a global response to the economic crisis.

UN officials say the final agreement should take the interests of all nations into account, not just the G8 or even G20 nations. And the United Nations will be a player in promoting recovery.