to serve as a forum to study questions on these countries and OECD's relations with them. It had a mandate to propose countries for dialogue. The Centre for Cooperation with the European Economies in Transitions (CCEET) was established by and came under the control of CGNME. ERD had the lead Whitehall responsibility for CGNME business. ERD also led on matters covered by the Group of the Council on Consultations for Most Important Meetings (GCCMIM) which came within the ambit of LCU.
6. Mr Impey said that the work of the Trade Committee, on which DTI led, was not specifically development orientated but regularly covered areas which had important and far reaching implications for developing countries. It maintained a close interest in the work of DCD/DAC and on matters related to DAES
7. Mr Gibby underlined the importance of making sure that briefing and instructions given to delegates, including those from UKDel OECD, should be cleared and coordinated in advance by the lead department as appropriate.
8.
Participants recognised the benefit to Non-Member countries of exposure to OECD skills and disciplines, and the enrichment in turn of the OECD from contacts with Non-Members and developing countries. Mr Millett said that involvement with Non-Members was a contentious issue within OECD because of the number involved and the contrasts in their stages of economic development. But OECD promoted free markets and democracy and could not turn any away. Dialogue with Non-Members originally centred on the prospect of eventual membership, and still did, although with the number of new players the goal had become little obscure amid fears of debasing OECD standards. Those on the threshold of membership were being advanced quickly. The PIT countries, and other countries engaged in dialogue such as the Czech and Slovak republics were also becoming candidates for membership. Other countries needed to be OECD related, but not with a view to membership these include China and, perhaps, India.
9.
It was important however to distinguish between the emphasis of OECD contact with Non-Members and that with developing countries. The Development Centre had a useful role in allowing poorer countries a measure of relationship with OECD without entering into a formal more demanding dialogue.
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10. Intensive high profile dialogue with China was seen politically important by Mr Seaton but not without its dangers. Mr Mosselman thought it right to support Japan's aim for more aid coordination with China in the absence of any internal mechanism caused by Chinese objection to donor coordination. Mr Impey said that expansion of international trade had brought the Chinese into the world trading system, and matters such GATT presented serious problems for them. In this area, the OECD had an educational role (if the Chinese allowed) similar to that pursued with the CEE countries. Although a China dialogue was taking place outside the Development Centre, both Mr Millett and Mr Impey saw merit in promoting contact through the Centre as it had
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