TNAG-2056-FCO40-2934-Hong-Kong-and-the-Organisation-for-Economic-Cooperation-and--1990 — Page 112

Line to Take

Agree that experience of the four workshops has been largely though not uniformally

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positive.

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Worth recalling that longer-term aim of exercise is to accustom DAES to thinking - and eventually behaving as developed countries. Workshops have generally helped that process. Understandable quality variable

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takes time.

Glad SG is already giving thought to future direction of OECD/DAE dialogue; we need to keep up momentum; ECSS and Ministerial will also no doubt want to reflect on next steps.

At this stage can only give the most preliminary reactions to SG's ideas. Hope he can develop these and other proposals that surfaced at the workshops in a short paper for a further meeting of CGNME in mid-May, on which we can then have an informed discussion.

Agree that informal tripartite workshop has proved a successful formula; worth retaining this vehicle for next phase of dialogue. May eventually need to get more inter-governmental. - but not yet.

Do not see broadening or deepening coverage of future workshops as mutually exclusive. Some workshops eg trade and financial markets have thrown up some specific issues which might be profitably pursued;

But equally clear that we have not exhausted the range of broad subjects of mutual interest; willing to look constructively at the topics proposed by the SG. Shall need to bear in mind DAEs' own wishes: but should not wait for them to act first.

Like idea of back-to-back meetings with Committees. We should consider whether to bring in other Committees such as DAC, CSTP or in longer run - CMIT and CIME.

RAE Gordon