Source: Xinhua

05-05-2009 08:22

BALI, Indonesia, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The backward infrastructure that suffered enormous pressure from Asia's rapid economic growth in recent years will continue to be a bottleneck for the region, said a book released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ADB Institution on Monday at the 42nd ADB annual meeting in Bali.

The book, titled Infrastructure for a Seamless Asia, presents the major issues and challenges in developing regional infrastructure in Asia through fostering regional cooperation, as well as provides a practical framework for pan-Asian infrastructure cooperation.

It noted that Asia's trade competitiveness depends to a large extent on efficient, fast, reliable and seamless infrastructure connections, but many parts of Asia are isolated economically as well as geographically.

"Asia has enormous untapped economic potential," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda, adding "Connecting its diverse economies and peoples through seamless infrastructure will help in achieving an integrated, poverty-free, prosperous, and peaceful Asia and the world."

According to the book, Asia needs an infrastructure investment of 8 trillion U.S. dollars in overall national infrastructure and about 290 billion U.S. dollars in regional infrastructure projects from 2010 to 2020.

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Editor:Qin Yongjing