Finance leaders pledge effort to boost global growth

WASHINGTON (AP) — Global finance officials are vowing to try to reinvigorate a lackluster global economy and urging governments to embrace free trade and do more to fight tax evasion.

Concluding biannual meetings by the world finance leaders, the 189-nation International Monetary Fund says in a statement that it will work toward "strong, sustainable, inclusive, job-rich and more balanced global growth."

The head of Mexico's central bank and chair of the IMF policy panel, Agustin Carstens, told reporters Saturday that "the global recovery is continuing, but the expansion is modest." He says nations must "implement mutually reinforcing policies to boost global growth and strengthen financial stability."

Markets have stabilized after a chaotic start to the year, when fears were growing about a possible new global recession, but the IMF says many threats remain.