Chino issued the call at an abbreviated ADB annual regional meeting here, which replaced an earlier scheduled conference in Turkey in May that was cancelled by the war in neighboring Iraq.

"Over the past year, optimism and hope have been clouded by uncertainties such as heightened geopolitical tensions and persistent threats of terrorism which have contributed to a slowdown in global economic growth," he said in a speech to governors of the 61-member bank.

"The current global concerns convey a clear message that enduring peace, stability, and prosperity definitely need continued and strengthened investment in poverty reduction."

Chino announced the bank and its donor-members led by Japan and the United States have agreed to "commence planning" on a four-year funding requirement for the bank's main soft-loan window the Asian Development Fund (ADF), a key aid source for countries with limited repayment capacity such as war-torn Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

"The first meeting of donors (is) expected to take place in October this year in Copenhagen," he said.

Donors committed 610.2 million dollars to the ADF window during the seventh planning program for 2000-2004, plus 179 million dollars in technical assistance funds.

The ADB lent 5.68 billion dollars in 2002, including 1.63 billion dollars in ADF funds.

Chino said donors agreed "that the current level of demand for ADF VII resources exceeds total ADF VII resource availability, and understood the serious resource constraints ADB faces in responding to the development needs of its poorer (developing member countries)."