BEIJING, Sept. 23-- Ahead of the annual weekend gathering of the World Bank and the International Money Fund, the multibillion-dollar plan to cancel poor countries' debts is moving forward.

A general framework for the debt forgiveness deal was endorsed in July by leaders of the G8 in Gleneagles, Scotland, but details on implementing the accord remain the sticking point.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has concerns over the detail but is nevertheless hopeful the dispute will be resolved soon.

"We will be working to advance the debt relief agreement that was reached by the G8 in Gleneagles to ensure that debt cancellation is accompanied by real additional resources so that developed countries as a whole benefit from this deal. We have been working with all the parties to move this forward. We are committed to getting it done and we expect real progress at these meetings," said Wolfowitz.

The agreement would initially forgive an estimated 40 billion US dollar worth of debt payments that 18 poor countries- most of them in Africa- owe to international lenders such as the World Bank and IMF.

But disputes have erupted over a number of issues, including whether all of the money that will be lost through debt cancellation will be made up fully by the rich countries and for how long the rich countries will need to make payments.

Rodrigo Rato, head of the IMF, also said progress was being made but called for"clear and transparent central banks and monetary authorities" in both developed and developing countries.(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)