Manila, May 18, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Asian Development Bank (ASX: ATB) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific welcomed Sri Lanka and Macao, China as new members today.
Becoming the Initiative's 26th and 27th members, Sri Lanka and Macao, China have committed to stepping up their fight against corruption. They will also undergo regular reviews of progress in implementing the ADB OECD Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia-Pacific.
The Action Plan calls on members to develop effective and transparent systems for public service, strengthen anti-bribery actions and promote integrity in business operations, and support active civil society and private sector involvement.
"We look forward to working closely with Sri Lanka and Macao, China and are encouraged by their commitment to step up their fight against corruption," said Frederic Wehrle, Coordinator for Asia-Pacific at the OECD Anti-Corruption Division, at the opening of the Initiative's 8th Steering Group meeting at ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
"Sri Lanka and Macao, China as new members will bring their experience in combating corruption to the Initiative's work and add to the momentum that is moving governments, businesses and civil society actors throughout the region to put an end to corruption," said Kathleen Moktan, Director of ADB's Capacity Development and Governance Division.
The announcement preceded the release of two major publications. The 2006 edition of the ADB/OECD Initiative's report on Anti-Corruption Policies in Asia and Pacific analyses the steps taken by the 25 member countries to reform their laws and institutions to fight corruption more effectively since 2004. It finds that, while good progress has been made across the region, enforcement remains a key issue to be addressed.
"Knowledge - Commitment - Action against Corruption in Asia-Pacific", a book that explores innovative reforms discussed at the ADB OECD 5th Regional Anti-Corruption Conference for Asia-Pacific in Beijing, China in September 2005, was also released.
For further information, please contact the Secretariat of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific: Kathleen Moktan, Director, Capacity Development and Governance Division, ADB, (Tel: +63 2 632 6651, Fax: +63 2 636 2193); Frederic Wehrle, Coordinator 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
Launched in 1999 under the joint leadership of ADB and OECD, the Initiative draws on a unique partnership among all social partners of Asian and Pacific countries. The Initiative 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 27 countries and jurisdictions committed to cooperate and build capacity in the fight against corruption. They include: Australia; Bangladesh; Cambodia; People's Republic of China; Cook Islands; Fiji Islands; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Republic of Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Samoa; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vanuatu; and Viet Nam.
Contact
Graham Dwyer
Email: gdwyer@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5253; +632 898 3413; +63 915 741 4363
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