Mumbai, June 11 -- Public debt levels in Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, are on average 20-26 percent of GDP, higher relative to 2007, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura stated at the Tenth Tokyo Fiscal Forum. This will make it more difficult to manage the growing spending pressures from aging, development needs, and natural disasters. He opined that strengthening fiscal frameworks helps governments in the region tackle long-standing challenges and build fiscal buffers against uncertainties. For countries with high or rising debt, it would help reduce risks, while avoiding disruptive fiscal adjustments, ultimately improving long-term growth prospects.

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