Rodrigo Rato managing director, International Monetary Fund, has said that the global economy remains robust with the US set for a "soft landing" and China extending its breakneck expansion. Rato was addressing a media meet in New York.

He said that after four consecutive years of strong growth, the IMF expected global growth to "remain solid" in 2007, approaching five per cent for the year. The IMF official forecast predicts global growth this year of 4.9 per cent.

Rato has, however, said there remain risks of a "disorderly adjustment" in the global economy, with Asian currency rates still too rigid and oil prices remaining volatile. Falling energy prices will support the global economy, Rato noted, "although we might see volatility in oil prices down the road."

He said that the US, the world's largest economy was headed for the economy cooling after years of rapid growth, while Economic recovery in Europe had broadened, and growth in Japan was broadly on track after "an earlier soft patch."

China is set for another year of growth above 10 per cent, the IMF chief said, while urging Beijing to take more measures to rein in unproductive investment.

Rato also said the IMF was on course to unveil more details of an internal review designed to make the six-decade-old fund more relevant to its fast-changing membership.