Leading central bankers are confident that global growth is picking up, European Central Bank president Mr Jean-Claude Trichet said today.
"We have very much confidence at the global level that growth is picking up and that recovery is gaining momentum," Mr Trichet told reporters after a G10 central bankers meeting in Bangkok.
"And we are reasonably confident that this recovery, or picking up of growth, or acceleration of growth would continue."
Mr Trichet, speaking as chairman of the G10, said the pivotal quarter had been the third quarter - it marked an acceleration for those countries that were already growing, and recovery for those countries that weren't.
"It would be quite likely that next year would be better than the present year, as an average, and in some parts of the world even the following year, 2005, will be even better than 2004."
In September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast global growth in 2004 would be 4.1 per cent, faster than the 3.2 per cent forecast for 2003. Mr Trichet did not offer forecasts.
The G10 central bankers were particularly impressed by Asia, noting the rise of intra-regional trade had made it one of the strongest growing regions in the world.