"The short term outlook for the region is bleak as the full impact of the severe recession in industrialized economies is transmitted to emerging markets, " said Jong-Wha Lee, acting chief economist for the ADB.

CNN: Asian economic outlook 'bleak' for 2009

Jong-Wha Lee and Kiseok Hong of the Asian Development Bank project that if China continues its structural reforms, it has the potential to grow at 7 percent in 2011-2020 and 6.23 percent in 2021-2030.

FORBES: Estimating China's New Growth Potential

From almost 40% a decade ago, it fell to 27% in 2008, according to a recent paper by Soyoung Kim of Seoul National University, as well as Jong-Wha Lee and Cyn-Young Park of the Asian Development Bank.

ECONOMIST: China may not matter quite as much as you think

This Forum was opened by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and facilitated by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, and included the participation of a range of senior leaders of UN agencies -- namely Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator, Ms. Anne-Birgette Albrectsen, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, Ms. Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, Ms Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES