PARIS, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Friday that Mexican Angel Gurria, one of two candidates bidding to become the new secretary general of the organization, was set to be named chief.

    Gurria has won the clear majority of votes from member countries, but his nomination would now require the final approval of all members, a spokesman of the OECD said.

    The body was expected to unveil the final decision before December 1.

    Gurria, 55, former Mexican finance minister, is a highly respected figure at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and played a key role in rescuing Mexico from a financial crisis in 1994.

    He emerged with former Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka, the other remaining candidate at the top of a long list of candidates, including former French finance minister Alain Madelin, former South Korean trade minister Han Seung-Soo, former chairman of the Australian competition and consumer commission Allan Fels, and former economics advisor to the Japanese prime minister Sawako Takeuchi.

    The Paris-based OECD, created in 1960, groups 30 industrialized nations to carry out research on economic and social issues.

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

    Johnston had favored a candidate from Asia, described by him as"the epicenter of world economic growth." Enditem