ADB president says disaster's harm on Japan's economy temporary

Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami will harm the country's economy, but only temporarily, Haruhiko Kuroda, President of the Asian Development Bank, said Tuesday in Beijing.


The disaster's negative impact on Japan's economy will materialize in the first half of this year, but will be short-lived, Kuroda told Xinhua.


"Japan's economic growth will pick up due to accelerated investment as reconstruction begins in the second half of this year," he added.


He said it is still too early to assess the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on the Japanese and global economies, adding that the impact felt by the world's third largest economy will affect other countries, both near and far.
(Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com)