OECD - ASEAN Cooperation - “Linking, Listening and Learning”

The event was attended by ministers of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), senior officials of governments, foreign ministries, finance ministries, trade and industry ministries and investment ministries of ASEAN countries, ambassadors of 40 countries and some private organisations. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Finance Minister Truong Chi Trung, accompanied by Vietnamese Ambassador to France, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

 

According to the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2013 agreed to establish the Southeast Asia Comprehensive Programme to support economic integration and reform priorities in Southeast Asia. The programme will create a regional platform for the exchange of best practices and mutual learning among policymakers in Southeast Asia and OECD countries to bring OECD - ASEAN relations to a new height and facilitate access to OECD knowledge for the sake of accelerating regional integration. The opening of the regional programme will support the goal of forming an ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

 

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said ASEAN countries have dynamic, rapid and continuous growth. However, the region is facing challenges, especially maintaining development momentum and transforming regional economies to a higher and more comprehensive development level. To this regard, OECD can provide support by building new relationships, at higher strategic levels, to create regular structures to exchange best policy practices between OECD and ASEAN countries.

 

"Opening the Southeast Asia Regional Programme marks a new chapter in the powerful and dynamic relations with this region. I am confident that, with the spirit of hard work and tremendous political support, our program will take effect in a certain period of time to make better policies for better lives,” he said.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chairman of the 2014 Ministerial Council Meeting 2014, delivered an important keynote speech. He stressed that the Japanese economy is coming back and Japan is ready to perform reforms and strongly participate in the process of building a new world economic order for the 21st century. Regarding the OECD Southeast Asia Programme, he appreciated the necessity of the programme and expressed Japan’s strong commitments. He noted that executing this programme is a "linking, listening and learning" process.

 

Vietnam’s delegation confirmed its supports and commitments to OECD - ASEAN cooperation and its desires to work closely with OECD and ASEAN member states for the success of the Southeast Asia Programme. Other collaborative contents that Vietnam interests include experience sharing in economic restructuring and measures to escape "middle-income trap", capitalise on the integration process, support connectivity and infrastructure, utilise new funding channels, and harmonise resource-mobilised procedures among ASEAN countries.

 

Delegates also attended side events like the meeting between OECD and ASEAN leaders and ministers, the OECD meeting on economic outlook.