U.K. to Lower ODA for Vietnam Next Years

The U.K. will gradually reduce official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam next years, from now until 2015, Ambassador Antony Stokes said at a press briefing in Hanoi March 2. The European country will end aid to Vietnam by 2016 as the Southeast Asian country is reaping many remarkable achievements, Stokes noted, adding that the move is aimed to boost effectiveness of aid program in fighting poverty worldwide. However, the U.K. will continue to help Vietnam in primary education, sanitation and HIV/AIDS prevention during the last five years of the 10-year Development Partnership Arrangement (DPA).  The U.K. has provided non-refundable aid worth £380 million ($618.7 million) to Vietnam through bilateral program since 1992. In addition, £19 million in debt relief has been granted to Vietnam since 2006. (vnexpress.net Mar 2, vietnamplus.vn Mar 2)