Eighteen governments from around the world were among the signatories of the statement, which recognised the challenge of tackling corruption for developing and developed countries.

 “Corruption must be prevented, investigated, prosecuted, penalised and driven out,” the agreement, issued at an international anti-corruption conference in Copenhagen, said.

“A multitude of factors that may be linked to corruption must be addressed, including: tax evasion, money laundering, illicit financial flows from the proceeds of crime, and safe havens,” it added.

It was signed by the governments of the Nordic countries, Afghanistan, Argentina, Burkina Faso, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, South Korea, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, and the US, as well as the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the IMF and others.

They pledged to take action in key areas, such as ending secrecy over company ownership, clamping down on money laundering and tax evasion as well as improving the implementation of international initiatives, like the UN Convention against Corruption and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International, said: “These commitments are welcome and much needed.

“What is needed is action, and we will track these new commitments to ensure they are not more empty promises.”

Transparency International, which is the secretariat to the International Anti-Corruption Conference Council, said the event came amid a “rise of authoritarianism” that “threatens those who defend social justice”.

The conference was held between Monday and Wednesday last week. The next International Anti-Corruption Conference will be held in Seoul in 2020.