BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- One third of state public investment is squandered by corruption in some Asian-Pacific countries. Corruption also increases business cost in the region, said by Geer van der Linden, vice president of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

    He made the remarks at the fifth Asian-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Conference, which was held here on Wednesday. He said corruption brought a destructive influence on impoverished countries in Asian-pacific region. It also makes public services inadequate and exhausts citizen's assets and incomes.

    Corruption also increases business cost, impeding regional economic development and employment, he said, citing a recent World Bank survey which showed that 36 percent of companies which had businesses in east Asia or Pacific region regarded corruption as the major hurdle in their business growth.

    The figure in south Asia is 40 percent.

    "However, optimistic signs have also appeared. For example, the member countries of the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific, which was initiated by the ADB and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, has reached 25 from 17 in 2001," he said.

    He also urged the Asian-Pacific countries to enhance international cooperation on anti-corruption so as to prevent and control outbound corruption. Enditem