Role of China in global slowdown bigger than thought, says IMF

Tokyo

CHINA'S "rebalancing" has been a much bigger factor behind the prolonged weakness in the global economy than has been generally realised, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday in a report casting fresh light on the globally important role of the world's second largest economy.

The new analysis contained in the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) - parts of which were released in advance of the full report - comes as policymakers prepare to debate the global slowdown during next week's annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington.