BANGKOK. Feb 1: The economies of the developed Asia-Pacific nations should perk up slightly this year, while the newly-industrialising countries and developing ones should see continued high growth, a UN report said Monday, according to AFP.

China will continue to see the greatest economic growth, albeit less than before, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) report says. China's economy grew 12.8 per cent in 1992. 13.2 per cent last year and is projfected to grow 10.0 per cent this year and 9.6 per cent in 1995.

But Pacific island nations will see collective economic growth plunge from 7.0 per cent in 1992 and 8.3 per cent last year to a projected 1.7 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent .In 1995. the United Nations

report says.

Their high growth was due largely to Papua New Guinea, where oil and gas investments spurred sharp economic rise.

Those Investments have ended but oil and gas deliveries have not begun, so Papua New Guinea will fall from 10.6 per cent growth in 1993 to 0.3 per cent in 1994 and 2.0 per cent in 1995. it says.

Among the developed ESCAP nations, the 1994-95 outlook for Australia and New Zealand "remains strong with the likely brighter prospect of world recovery, which is likely to boost exports from both those countries," it says.

Australia’s economy is projected to grow 3.0 per cent this year, up from grew 3.6 per cent last year and is projected at 2.4 per cent this year and next.