Katayama becomes 1st Japanese to chair IMF-World Bank joint committee

BANGKOK - Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Thursday she has been appointed chair of the joint development committee of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, becoming the first Japanese national to hold the post since the committee was established in 1974.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility," Katayama told a news conference in Bangkok. "I hope to work with countries around the world to help address development challenges."