Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh)

At a meeting in Hanoi with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, which took place on the occasion of the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum 2023, Foreign Minister Son thanked the organisation and the official in particular for their support and close coordination, which has contributed to the success of the forum as well as the Vietnam Investment Forum – OECD 2023.

The Foreign Minister expressed his belief that with the theme “Sustainable and Quality Investment: New Momentum for OECD- Southeast Asia Partnership”, the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum will help enhance cooperation, especially in investment, between OECD countries and Southeast Asia, towards the 10th anniversary of the OECD-run Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) next year.

He also emphasised the importance of implementing the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vietnam and the OECD, and called on it to further support the dispatch of Vietnamese coordinators at the organisation.

For his part, OECD Secretary-General Cormann expressed his impressions on the economic silver linings created by Vietnam for the gloomy world economic picture.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann at the meeting in Hanoi on October 26, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh)

He thanked the country for its close coordination and congratulated it on the successful organisation of the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum for two consecutive years as SEARP co-chair, opening up new cooperation orientations between the OECD and regional countries in the time ahead.

The OECD and its member countries will continue to support Vietnam in implementing sustainable development goals, bringing the cooperation to a new height in a more substantive and effective manner, in association with Vietnam’s priorities in emerging areas like digital transformation and green growth.

This is the second time OECD Secretary-General Cormann has visited Vietnam and attended the OECD-Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum since assuming the position of OECD Secretary General, demonstrating the organisation’s respect for its cooperation with Vietnam as well as the country's role in promoting cohesion between OECD members and Southeast Asian nations.