WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Global growth remains strong, and risks are lower than they were six months ago, said IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato on Monday, but he also warned political and economic leaders should not be complacent.

    "Where is the global economy now? I do not think that the risks are greater than they were six months ago. Actually, I think they are a little lower," Rato said in an address at the Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington.

    "But some of the risks are different, and there is greater consciousness of the uncertainties and paradoxes that lie behind our current prosperity," he added.

    "Central banks around the world have established credibility in taming inflation, and their task has been made easier over the last six months by lower oil prices," said the IMF chief. "But the risk that political events could disrupt the global economy remains."

    Last week, an IMF report also concluded that the United States economy is not heading for recession and even its slowdown will have little effect on world economy.