The global economy is recovering but remains far from robust, dpa quoted International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde as saying Tuesday. "We can see some signs of thaw - welcome signs after the longest, hardest, winter in a generation," she said in a speech to newspaper editors in Washington. Europe is on the road to financial stability and the United States is seeing signs of better growth and lower unemployment, but it is still too early to feel secure, she said. "What is crucial at this point is that policymakers use the breathing space to finish the job, and not lapse into complacency or insularity," she said. The recovery remains "very fragile," she said, pointing to ongoing dangers of strain on the European financial system, high public and private debt and unemployment. Oil prices also have the potential to damage the recovery, she said. She called on the United States to have a leading role in international cooperation as Washington has much to lose if Europe falters. "Heightened global cooperation is the key," she said. "History has shown us that when nations face common challenges in a spirit of solidarity, everybody wins. When nations pull apart in acrimony, going their own way and seeking their own advantage, everybody loses."
