Asian policymakers have renewed calls to establish a monetary fund to help them deal with a financial crisis similar to the one that hobbled the region a decade ago.

Current and former econ­omics ministers speaking at a forum on Monday organised by the Asian Development Bank, urged the creation of a regional fund to move quickly and decisively to help stabilise Asian currencies in the event of another meltdown. Many said they had been disappointed with the performance of the International Monetary Fund in 1997-98. It was widely criticised for doing too little too late, and for imposing harsh conditions.  read more »