Vietnam urged to encourage ASEAN nations to join OECD

Vietnam should encourage other ASEAN members to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a senior official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry said at the Ministerial Conference of the OECD in Tokyo on March 8.

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Masamoto Kenichi, who is in charge of the OECD, spoke highly of the role of Southeast Asian nations in the world’s economic growth, saying that they are indispensable in the OECD structure to maintain effective, legal and interactive operation of an international organization.

Therefore, the OECD considered the regional nations its potential members, and initiated the Southeast Asia Regional Program (SEARP) in 2014, he said, adding that the interest in the OECD among ASEAN nations is growing.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, said ASEAN nations should continue giving priorities to boosting economic integration via bilateral and regional free trade agreements.

The SEARP aims to support ASEAN nations’ economic reform and integration, has seen numerous positive outcomes. The OECD has shared its experience, knowledge and advised policies for ASEAN nations in investment, infrastructure, small- and medium-sized enterprises, education-training, among others, Son said.

He suggested ASEAN countries improve their business environments to encourage the private sector to join infrastructure development, while strengthening their digital connectivity, investing in human resources to take opportunities and benefits of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).

Son also called on ASEAN countries to enhance their cooperation to mitigate challenges facing skilled laborers shifting among them, promote gender equality, women’s progress via facilitating their access to education, training, employment, and social resources.

During the conference, themed Inclusive ASEAN, participants discussed challenges and opportunities posed during the economic integration and sustainable and inclusive development in Southeast Asia.

The event highlighted the important role of SEARP in creating favorable conditions for ASEAN’s regional integration, supporting reform priorities in ASEAN member nations, and bringing them closer to the OECD.

It also affirmed the strategic significance of connectivity between the OECD and ASEAN via SEARP and acknowledged the progresses SEARP has gained over the past tenure co-chaired by Japan and Indonesia.

Thailand and the Republic of Korea will co-chair SEARP in the 2018-2021 term.

Source: VNA