Press Release No. 12/137

Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Japan's $60 Billion Pledge

April 16, 2012

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today:

“I warmly welcome today’s announcement by Finance Minister Jun Azumi on the Japanese authorities’ intention to contribute US$60 billion in additional resources to the IMF. This is an important step forward in the ongoing international effort to strengthen the adequacy of the global resources available to prevent and fight crises and to promote global economic stability.

“Japan has a longstanding record of helping others, and of supporting the IMF in its core mission of helping to support economic stability in all its member countries. I am grateful for Japan’s leadership and strong commitment to multilateralism, and I call on the broader Fund membership to follow Japan’s lead.

“This would complement the US$200 billion in pledges already received from the Euro Area and enable decisive progress to be made by the time of the Spring Meeting of our global membership later this week.”