DAVOS-Asian economy to reach a bottom in 2009 - ADB chief

By Natsuko Waki

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The downturn in the Asian economy is likely to reach a bottom in 2009, with China's growth slowing to between 7 percent and 8 percent, the head of the Asia Development Bank said on Wednesday.

"I think it's going to be the worst year for Asia and the global economy. I'm not talking about it will be the worst year historically, but it will be the bottom.

"Japan will have zero or minus growth. Personally speaking, I think the Chinese economy will grow by 7-8 percent," Haruhiko Kuroda told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

On the subject of sterling's recent weakness, Kuroda said: "Sterling had appreciated a lot and it's only giving back (those) gains, aggravated by the credit crisis. I don't think it's intentional devaluation (by Britain)."

(Reporting by Natsuko Waki; editing by Simon Jessop)