China key to easing global recession

The United Nations is counting on China as Asia's "locomotive" for global economic growth, it said in a high-level report released on Friday.

In the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2009, UN experts forecast China will achieve between 7 and 8.9 percent growth this year, with the most likely figure being 8.4 percent.

In contrast, the global economy is forecast to grow by just 1 percent, down from 2.5 percent last year.