WASHINGTON, February 5 (Itar-Tass) - The first round of Russian-American intergovernmental consultations on Russia joining to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) started in Washington on Monday.
A delegation of specialists from various ministries and departments, including the Economic Development Ministry and Bank of Russia, has arrived here to participate in the dialogue, a source of the Russian Trade Mission in the United States told Itar-Tass.
The delegation spent the first working day in the U.S Department of State, where a meeting was held with Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez. The press service of the U.S. department told Itar-Tass on Monday evening that both sided underscored the great importance of Russia joining to the OECD and had a productive exchange of views on best practices to join the organization. The Russian delegation noted Moscow considered joining to the OECD as a priority and believed it was important as well for the organization.
The Russian specialists plan to continue the dialogue in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The OECD originates from the organization formed in 1947 to coordinate projects for postwar economic reconstruction of Europe under the Marshall Plan. In the current form, it exists since 1961. The orgnazation unites 34 most developed countries and is informally called a "club of rich nations".