The 60th Anniversary of Japan’s Accession to the OECD | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Economic Diplomacy

May 16, 2024
Courtesy call on Prime Minister KISHIDA by Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD at the OECD Headquarters (May 2024) Courtesy call on Prime Minister KISHIDA by Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD at the OECD Headquarters
(May 2024)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Family photo at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (May 2024) Family photo at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting
(May 2024)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Japan’s accession to the OECD. In 1964, Japan became the first Asian country to join the OECD. Since then, Japan has further opened its economy by way of liberalisation in line with the OECD Codes of Liberalisation of Capital Movements and of Current Invisible Operations, and this resulted in Japan’s economic growth supported by free trade and investment.

Japan chaired the 2024 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) in this milestone year. The OECD Ministerial Council Meeting is held once a year at the ministerial level, and it is the most important meeting of the OECD's highest decision-making body, the Council. This was the third time that Japan assumed the Chair since joining the OECD, following the first two in 1978 and 2014.

The 2024 OECD MCM was held in Paris on May 2 and 3. As the Chair of this meeting, Japan led discussions to maintain and expand a rules-based free and fair economic order under the theme of “Co-creating the Flow of Change: Leading Global Discussions with Objective and Reliable Approaches towards Sustainable and Inclusive Growth”.

Events related to the 60th anniversary of Japan's accession to the OECD and the 2024 MCM

May 16, 2024
  Date Events Place Relevant Ministries and Agencies
1 January 11 Yamagata Rural Innovation Seminar (Japanese only)Open a New Window Yamagata, Japan Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries Yamagata Prefecture
2 March 14 Consultation Meeting with BIAC and TUAC for the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2024 Tokyo, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
3 March 14-15 Tokyo Roundtable on Capital Market and Financial Reform in AsiaOpen a New Window Tokyo, Japan Ministry of Finance
Financial Services Agency
4 March 15 Presentation of the Recommendation by the Japan Business Federation to Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko upon the 60th anniversary of Japan’s accession to the OECD Tokyo, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
5 March 15 Parliamentary Vice-Minister HOSAKA Yasushi received a courtesy call by Mr. Charles Rick Johnston Chair of Business at OECD (BIAC) Tokyo, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
6 April 11 Government action for developing high integrity carbon markets: Keeping momentum in 2024 (webinar)Open a New Window Online Ministry of the Environment
7 May 2-3 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2024 Paris, France Related government ministries and agencies