Debt crisis tops agenda at Asia-Europe finance talks

BANGKOK (AFP) - Senior finance officials from Asia and Europe met on Monday for talks on the global economy in the face of growing nervousness about the worldwide fallout of the eurozone debt crisis.

The meeting in Bangkok comes as Asia's economies - for years seen as a bright spot in a gloomy world economy - show increasing strains from Europe's financial turbulence.

"With the ongoing economic difficulties of some countries in the eurozone, I believe that our cooperation is even more crucial than ever," Thai Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said in opening remarks.

"Because Asia and Europe are closely knitted in terms of international trade and investment, one spark of crisis could cause turmoil in the other side of the world," he added.