The slowdown in the global economy in the current year is expected to linger in 2005. The growth forecast is, however, strong for the US and China. Stephen Roach, chief economist, Morgan Stanley, in his recently published economic report has maintained his earlier view that the slowdown in the global economy will continue in 2005. He predicts, "We see a marked slowdown in the global economy in 2005, and the global GDP will slow down to 3.6% compared with 4.7% in 2004.'