Manila - Twenty-one Asians were among the most powerful people in the world, according to an annual list by Forbes, with Chinese President Xi Jinping judged the most influential in the region.
Xi was ranked third in Forbes' list of 72 people, published in the United States on Wednesday, behind Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama.
Six other people from China were on the list, including Premier Li Keqiang and newcomers Jack Ma, CEO of e-commerce company Alibaba, and Ma Huateng, CEO of internet firm Tencent.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the highest-ranking newcomer from Asia, debuting at No 15. Two Indian businessmen were also on the list.
“Modi is credited with massive reconstruction projects in his home state of Gujarat,” Forbes said. “His administration promises to bring economic rejuvenation to other beleaguered parts of India.”
Thirty-year-old Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and 31-year-old North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were the two youngest entries, at No 22 and No 49 respectively.
Toyota Motor CEO Akio Toyoda led four people from Japan, ranking at No 34, followed by Masayoshi Son, founder of internet and telecom giant Softbank at No 38.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda at No 48 and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at No 63 rounded up the powerful people from Japan.
From South Korea, the influential people chosen were Samsung Group vice-chairman Jay Y Lee and chairman Lee Kun-hee, President Park Guen-Hye and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Forbes said the factors taken into account in selecting the 72 people on the list included “the amount of money they control, the number of people they impact, their total spheres of influence, and how actively they wield their power”. - Sapa-dpa