On 5 October 2021 in Paris, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council at Ministerial Level dedicated to the OECD’s 60th anniversary.
Edgars Rinkēvičs drew the attention of those present to the need for highlighting the shared values of the OECD on its 60th anniversary. The goal of the OECD is to build a better and more inclusive world, said the Minister, expressing conviction that the OECD’s unique role in formulating innovative policies and evidence-based analysis will continue into the next decade. He noted with satisfaction that the statement on the OECD’s new priorities names an open and transparent market economy, democracy, human rights and gender equality. Those priorities will help us achieve the goals of sustainable economic growth and employment while protecting our planet, Edgars Rinkēvičs said.
The Latvian Foreign Minister also pointed out that digitalisation has created both opportunities and challenges. Latvia has been actively fighting disinformation at the international and national level. Our response is to promote the use of independent mass media and improve media literacy, said the Foreign Minister as he underlined that combating disinformation calls for joint efforts of democracies across the globe.
Climate change remains one of the key policy problems, Edgars Rinkēvičs noted and called for making every effort to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and economic resilience. Latvia welcomes the adoption of the OECD Global Relations Strategy. Cooperation with third countries is of vital importance as OECD standards are to be projected worldwide. However, cooperation with third countries should be based on common interests and guided by the fundamental OECD values, said the Minister. That can be achieved, as evidenced by the agreement on a new two-pillar plan to reform international taxation rules. A strong and people-centred economic growth also calls for solid core elements. For Latvia, such core elements are investments into human capital and digital transformation. This is the only way to promote a free and fair trade, develop secure and sustainable technologies and strengthen the transatlantic dialogue, underlined Edgars Rinkēvičs in conclusion.