Davos, Switzerland - Coordinated international efforts will be needed to lead the world out of the current economic crisis, the United Nation's Ban Ki-Moon and British premier Gordon Brown said Friday, urging countries to also maintain aid levels to the poor.

Brown said countries needed to "come together as one" and take steps like those he introduced in Britain, including capital injections and the introduction of stimulus packages.

Ahead of an April Group of 20 industrialized countries (G20) meeting in London, Brown also said that, if needed, central banks could lend directly to companies who cannot get loans owing to the credit crunch.

"The resumption of lending to the real economy" was key to recovery, he said at the World Economic Forums's annual meeting in Davos.

"Protectionism in the end protects nobody, least of all the poor," the prime minister said, warning against "deglobalization."

"There is no solution in abandoning globalization," Brown emphasized, but said it needed to be better managed.

"Globalization has lifted many people out of poverty, but not enough," Ban said, calling for "international coordinated measures" in which the UN could play a role.

The G20 meeting was expected to focus mostly on the world economy, but Brown said climate change and poverty would also be on the agenda.

Brown said the global financial system required changes, including an early warning system for risks, reforms and clearer responsibilities and accountabilities from financial institutions and an agreement on international standards for transparency.

For his part, Ban welcomed stimulus packages in industrialized nations, but urged them to "put aside a portion your less fortunate neighbors. Do not overlook them."

"The well-being of our neighbors is our own well-being," said Ban.

He said efforts to fight diseases like polio and malaria in the developing world were bearing fruit, but required more donations from the richest nations.

Meanwhile, Bill and Melinda Gates announced a 34-million-dollar grant to help fight so-called "neglected tropical diseases."

They also called on countries and corporations to continue to be generous in their foreign assistance commitments, in spite of the economic downturn.

"Simply put, aid works," said Melinda Gates, adding that improving health care and fighting diseases led to increased economic output in poorer countries.

"Aid has been a huge success," echoed Bill, supporting a tier-pricing system, in which drug companies only charge poorer nations for the cost of medicines, instead making their profits in the industrialized world. (dpa)