Asia key to restoring world growth-World Bank chief

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - Asia is key to restoring global growth and an East Asia Summit in Thailand next week is a good opportunity to discuss economic issues confronting the region, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Thursday.

"This summit is timely given the recent G20 meetings and I look forward to listening to Asian leaders and discussing ways to work together to promote growth and trade, resist protectionism and protect the vulnerable," Zoellick said in a statement.

The meeting in Pattaya, Thailand, on Sunday is an annual gathering of leaders from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and New Zealand.

"Asia straddles many of the most challenging developing and developed world issues facing us, and is a key platform for restoring the global growth we need," said Zoellick.

"The region, which represents over half the world's population, has been especially hit by the impacts of the global financial crisis, with joblessness likely to increase," he added.

During the meeting, Zoellick will discuss the fallout of the global financial crisis in the region and the role of the World Bank, which has launched a trade financing facility to support $50 billion of trade hard hit by a global credit crunch.

In addition, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday its Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will also attended the summit.