*********************************************************
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, arrived in Paris on May 6 (Paris time) for the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Upon his arrival in Paris, Mr So met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr Roberto Azevˆ§do, to discuss issues of mutual concern.
During the Trade Session of the MCM on May 7 (Paris time), Mr So joined the discussion with participating ministers on how the OECD could further support the strengthening of the multilateral trade system, particularly in light of the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali (MC9). The session also examined the implications of global value chains for trade, investment and jobs.
While in Paris, Mr So also met with the Minister of International Trade of Canada, Mr Ed Fast, to exchange views on bilateral trade relations.
Before Mr So concluding this trip, he will also attend an informal gathering of ministers responsible for the WTO. The meeting will discuss the WTO forward negotiating agenda following the Bali Package achieved at MC9, as well as fresh ideas on how to take forward the negotiating agenda in the WTO and to achieve results by the 10th Ministerial Conference in 2015.
Mr So will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (May 8).
Ends/Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:58
NNNN
