The forecast in East Asia is maintained for 2016 and 2017. Growth this year will reach 5.8%, with a slight moderation to 5.6% in 2017. Growth in the People's Republic of China (PRC) — the world's second largest economy — is expected to hit 6.6% this year, driven by strong domestic consumption, solid wage growth, urban job creation, and public infrastructure investment. The forecast for the PRC in 2017 is maintained at 6.4%.

In Southeast Asia, growth forecasts remain unchanged at 4.5% in 2016 and 4.6% in 2017, with Malaysia and the Philippines expecting stronger growth due to a surge in domestic consumption and public and private investment, compared to lower growth forecasts in Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, and Singapore.

The outlook in Central Asia is maintained at 1.5% in 2016 and 2.6% in 2017, as the ongoing recession in the Russian Federation and low global commodity prices for oil and natural gas continue to dampen growth in the subregion.

The Pacific will see growth of 2.7% in 2016, picking up to 3.3% in 2017. The fiscal contraction in Papua New Guinea — the Pacific's largest economy — and recovery from recent cyclones have weighed on growth in the subregion. While cyclone damage in Fiji has had a bigger impact on its growth outlook than previously envisaged, prospects for Samoa, Kiribati, and Tuvalu are improving through improvements in fisheries, infrastructure, and tourism.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.

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