French President Jacques Chirac on Friday urged the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to quickly take in Russia as a new member.

During a meeting in Paris with the organization's chief-designate Jose Angel Gurria, Chirac said that "it was necessary for the OECD to enlarge, for it to open up in particular to emerging countries and for Russia to be quickly admitted," according to Chirac's spokesman Jerome Bonnafont.

They also discussed the possibility of recruiting China into the 30-member group, said Bonnafont.

The OECD "cannot afford the luxury of failing to take into account these large developing economies, whose importance grows daily", Gurria, who is to take over as OECD secretary general in June, told a press conference following the talks.

Outgoing OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston has repeatedly stressed that his successor should concentrate on recruiting new members, particularly emerging regional powers such as China, India, Brazil and Russia.

The Paris-based OECD now groups 30 leading industrial countries. With active relations with some 70 other countries and regions, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, its work covers economic and social issues ranging from macroeconomics, trade, education, development, to science and innovation.

The OECD plays a prominent role in fostering good governance in the public service and in corporate activity.

Source: Xinhua