PA OECO
Tel No: 071 270 2572
Fax No: 071 270 3443
HIB 091/3
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 APR 1993
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
DESK OFFICER INSA
PA
REGISTRY Action Talen
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
31 March 1993
J Thomas Esq.,
(by fax)
UKDEL/OECD
Paris
Dew Junkin.
14
DEVELOPMent centRE: ADVISORY BOARD MEETING:
2 APRIL: ROLE OF
THE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE IN THE OECD'S DIALOGUE WITH DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
1. Thank you for copying to ERD your letter of 25 March to Paul Akroyd about the OECD's dialogue with non-member countries. This has given rise to some concern. Seen from here OECD policy dialogues with non-members are really a matter for the CGNME rather than the Development Centre and there are several points in the line to take which, we believe, are more properly the responsibility of the former.
2. The idea of dialogue with China rings several alarm bells. We have not yet formulated a line on the issue of an OECD/China dialogue (re the Japanese proposal for the ECSS meeting) and are considering various alternatives. So, even if it were the perogative of the Development Centre, we would not wish to enter into substantive discussion at this stage. Similar considerations apply to the question of Indonesia. We accept that the Development Centre enjoys contacts of a variety of sorts with many developing countries including China. But we feel that you should be aware of the conflicting views held by different parts of Whitehall on China's association with the OECD (including Hong Kong Department in the FCO and ITP/DTI). Doubtless ODA will be consulting.
3. We would, therefore, like you to take a holding position at this stage on the question of policy dialogue.
Yous
10.
I C Ruff
Economic Relations Department
cc: P Akroyd Esq., MRED/ODA
S Chakrabarti Esq.,APD/ODA
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N. Whitney, HKD
c. Greenwood, Fea
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