Vietnam Expects More ODA from U.K., PM Dung Says

Vietnam expected the U.K. to continue to provide official development assistance (ODA) for the country, especially in infrastructure and climate change adaptation, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said. Mr. Dung made the statement at a meeting with Tony Blair, former U.K. Prime Minister in the capital city of Hanoi on October 15. Vietnam wants to partner with the U.K. in every aspect, especially politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, tourism, and education-training. Mr. Blair said that he is willing to share his experience with Vietnam to help the country reform the economy and state-owned enterprises, attract more foreign investment, adapt to climate change, successfully apply the public-private partnership model, develop education and training and ensure environmental protection. He also confirmed that he will do his utmost to foster the strategic partnership that both nations share. The U.K. has granted over £380 million to Vietnam through bilateral programs since 1992. In addition, more than £19 million in debt relief has been granted to Vietnam since 2006. The European country will gradually reduce ODA for Vietnam from now to 2015 as the Southeast Asian country is having many remarkable achievements, Ambassador Antony Stokes earlier said. (Tuoi Tre –Youth Oct 16 p6, vietnamplus.vn Oct 15)