The head of the International Monetary Fund says a substantial portion of the world economy appears better-off now than a year ago.

At this year’s Boao Forum for Asia in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said growth continues to strengthen and expand among emerging and developing economies. She said the U.S. recovery is also gaining momentum.

Citing her agency’s World Economic Outlook report due next week, Lagarde the euro zone crisis remains a risk for global economic recovery.