TBILISI, Georgia, May 3. We need to accelerate efforts to combat the crisis of poverty, Asian Development Bank's President Masatsugu Asakawa said during a briefing on the sidelines of the ADB's 57th annual meeting in Tbilisi, Trend reports.
"I express gratitude to Georgia for their excellent organization of the meeting. This marks only the second gathering in the South Caucasus region. As we convene amidst numerous challenges, it becomes imperative to redouble our efforts in combating the crisis of poverty," he said.
Masatsugu Asakawa emphasized that the global community has a responsibility to address the crisis of poverty and much of the growing socio-economic instability.
He noted that the ADB highly values the resolute support of its donors, who believe that it is the shared strategy that will not only provide incentives and accelerate the pace of international cooperation, which is crucial in the conditions of a global crisis.
"This cooperation expands opportunities," he said.
The theme of the 57th annual meeting, scheduled for May 2 to 5, is "Bridge to the Future".
The first session of the Board of Governors will take place on May 4. The opening will mark the official start of the annual meeting. This event is attended by distinguished guests from the host country. Statements will be made by ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Chairman of the ADB Board of Governors, Lasha Khutsishvili.
The annual meeting provides ADB governors with the opportunity to discuss development issues and challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region. Several thousand participants regularly attend the meeting, including finance ministers, central bank governors, high-ranking government officials, representatives of the private sector, international organizations, civil society organizations, youth, academia, and the media.