The ramparts built after the 1997-1998 Asian crisis helped blunt the impact of turbulence that ripped through America's financial heartland this month, economists said.
Asian stock markets plunged after a wide-ranging shakeup on Wall Street that included the bankruptcy of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the takeover of its counterpart Merrill Lynch.
Economists say Asia's exports are expected to take a hit, leading to slower economic growth this year and in 2009.
But the region is now on a stronger footing than in years gone past, they add.
"Asia will not be able to avoid some impact for sure," senior Asian Development Bank (ADB) economist Cyn Young-Park told AFP, adding she did not think the US financial turmoil can cause a severe crisis similar to 1997.
"So far, emerging Asia has been weathering the storm relatively well.
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International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in an interview with The Straits Times newspaper that Asia was