BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Global economic growth is expected to remain sluggish in the coming year. A UN report says that the global economy will also be insufficient to pull many countries out of the economic slowdown.

Launched by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the report also predicts a sharp downturn in global trade. It attributes the drop to "declining import demand” in Europe and "anemic aggregate demand" in the US and .

According to the report, it may take at least 5 years for Europe to recover from its job losses and the US from its economic recession. The report also anticipates a separate 2.4 percent and 3.2 global economic growth in 2013 and 2014, and adds that the 2.4 percent growth forecast in 2013 would be well below its potential.

(Source: CNTV.cn)