BANGKOK -- Trade recovery will allow developing Asia-Pacific countries to grow by 4.6% this year -- faster than the 4.4% they managed in 2023 -- despite China's economy moderating to 4.5% from last year's 5.2%, the World Bank said in an economic report released on Monday.

While regional goods exports began to recover in the second half of 2023, the developing Asian region could be exposed to trade-distorting policies in key destination markets like the U.S., China, Japan and South Korea, the report warns.