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19/04/2005 - The Asian Development Bank (ADB)/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific today in Hanoi welcomed the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Thailand as new members.
"It is both an honor and a privilege to count the People's Republic of China and Thailand among the members of the Initiative," said Jak Jabes, Director of ADB's Governance and Regional Cooperation Division, at the opening of the Initiative's 6th Steering Group. "It is important proof of China's and Thailand's highest political commitment to fight corruption and a major step forward for the region's efforts in this regard. The ADB/OECD Initiative looks forward to working with the Chinese and Thai authorities."
In joining this Initiative as its 24th and 25th full members, the PRC's and Thailand's highest authorities have committed to implement the three pillars of action of the Initiative's Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia-Pacific, to undergo regular reviews of progress in implementing the Action Plan, and to play a greater role in the fight against corruption both regionally and worldwide. The three pillars of the Initiative's Action Plan include the development of effective and transparent systems for public service, strengthening anti-bribery actions and promoting integrity in business operations, and supporting active public involvement.
"With the membership of the People's Republic of China and Thailand, the Initiative now covers more than half of the world's population, giving it an even more prominent role in today's global anti-corruption architecture," said Frédéric Wehrlé, OECD Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific. The Initiative aims at supporting the establishment of effective and sustainable anti-corruption mechanisms in the Asian and Pacific region.
Launched in 1999 under the joint leadership of ADB and OECD, the Initiative draws on a first-of-its-kind partnership between all social partners of Asian and Pacific countries. With its goals set out in the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia-Pacific, it seeks to assist countries from the region in developing and promoting comprehensive anti-corruption policies at national and regional levels and provides capacity building in this area.
Since the Action Plan's adoption in Tokyo in 2001, this inter-governmental process has been joined by 25 countries and jurisdictions committed to cooperate in the fight against corruption. They include: Australia; Bangladesh; Cambodia; PR China; Cook Islands; Fiji Islands; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Republic of Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Malaysia; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Samoa; Singapore; Thailand; Vanuatu; and Viet Nam.
The ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific in November 2004 released a report analyzing its member countries' anti-corruption policies and legal and institutional frameworks, with a view to provide guidance to member countries on individual priority actions to be taken to increase the effectiveness of their fight against corruption. While the report found that almost all members have made significant improvements to their anti-corruption systems over the past four years, both in terms of legislative amendments and administrative changes, many areas where there are still weaknesses or shortcomings were identified. With the accession of the PRC and Thailand to the Action Plan, the report will now be expanded to include a comprehensive analysis of China's and Thailand's laws, institutions, and systems to prevent and deter corruption.
For further information, please contact the Secretariat of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific: Jak Jabes, Director, Governance and Regional Cooperation Division, ADB, (Tel: +63-2-632 5749, Fax: +63-2-636 2182) ; Frédéric Wehrlé, Coordinator, Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific, Anti-Corruption Division, OECD (Tel: +33-6-8607 6329, Fax: +33-1-4430 6307).
Also, see the Initiative's web site: http://www1.oecd.org/daf/asiacom
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