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World Bank, IMF Annual Meetings Open in Singapore
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=14034D5:A6F02AD83191E16009031AD706A4D26C9574F7DCC14957C0 Institution
leaders call for more help for developing countries during opening
session The annual meeting of the World Bank and International
Monetary Fund has opened in Singapore with calls for more support for
developing countries and a restart of global trade talks.







Rodrigo de Rato speaks during opening session, TuesdayThe heads of the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank opened the session
Tuesday by calling for more help for developing nations.

The IMF chief, Rodrigo de Rato, said promises of aid to Africa made by
rich countries need to become a reality.

He also urged members to support trade talks aimed at opening up
global markets. De Rato said the failure of the talks could lead to
weaker economic growth.

"On trade, the world will either go forward to greater growth and
broader opportunities or backward to narrow nationalism," he said.







Paul WolfowitzPaul Wolfowitz, head of the World Bank, also expressed
concern that unchecked corruption hinders development.

On Monday, IMF members approved a landmark plan to gradually increase
the voting rights of developing economies. China, South Korea, Mexico
and Turkey are the first countries to get a greater say in the
institution's activities.