This has been extended over the last decade to include a wide range of areas: competition policies, taxation, statistics, investment policies, financial reform, insurance and pensions, corporate governance, budget management and public governance, science and technology, steel, shipbuilding and maritime transport, innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises, labour market and social issues, trade and macroeconomic analysis, and more.

These exchanges of policy experience have clearly been beneficial, not just for China and the OECD, but for furthering multilateral co-operation generally. This was reaffirmed as recently as May 2005 when the minister of commerce of China, Bo Xilai, attended the trade session of the annual OECD Ministerial Council meeting, the first time a minister from China has participated. Minister Bo confirmed his wish to strengthen China’s relationship with OECD, including further participation in OECD committees; China participates as an observer in the Committee on Science and Technology Policy and the Committee on Fiscal Affairs.

Secretary-General Johnston, who welcomed Minister Bo at the ministerial meeting, noted that reinforcement of co-operation with China is a strategic priority of the OECD.

For more information, contact Frederc.Langer@oecd.org.

©OECD Observer No 251, September 2005