A round-up of recent public finance articles from Asia Pacific you might have missed.

Australia's PM optimistic about 'fragile' recovery                 

Tony Abbott has launched an optimistic, ambitious agenda for Australia's year as the head of the world's premier economic forum, to build on a "fragile" growth by encouraging business to invest and create jobs. (The Australian)

New Zealand: paying off debt is government focus

The National Government's economic focus will be on paying down debt as Crown finances improve but a Labour-led government would take the country backwards, Prime Minister John Key said this morning. (The New Zealand Herald)

Rajan rate revamp hinges on curbing India fiscal spending

ANALYSIS: For India central bank governor Raghuram Rajan to more than halve Asia’s highest inflation rate, he’ll face his biggest challenge yet: convincing the country’s politicians to spend less money. (Bloomberg)

South Korea fourth-quarter GDP growth meets forecast on domestic demand                 

South Korea's economy grew a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter over the previous three months as capital investment grew at the fastest pace in nearly two years, meeting market expectations and boosting growth prospects for 2014. (Reuters)

China's economic growth continues to slow                 

World's second largest economy heads for a bumpy road amid compiling local debts, leading to smallest growths in years. (Aljazeera)

As Bangkok spirals out of control, business suffers                 

OPINION: The political upheaval, which started in November, has already impacted business, a trend that will worsen if things don’t settle down soon, analysts warn. Thailand’s finance ministry has warned that economic growth could fall to as low as 3%–from 6.4% in 2012–if the political unrest continues and the general election is delayed, according to media reports. (Forbes)