The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will provide non-refundable aid to help the central province of Quang Tri implement development projects from 2012 to 2015. An agreement to this effect was signed in Quang Tri on May 19 by provincial authorities and KOICA representatives. Cooperation will be targeted at human resources and healthcare development, hunger elimination, poverty reduction, and green growth. Nguyen Duc Cuong, Chairman of the Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee, said in the last 10 years, the RoK has assisted the province to deploy five programs with a total capital investment of US$4.27 million. These programs have helped improve agricultural infrastructure, increase the quality of healthcare services, education and training, and raise people’s living standards, especially for the poor. RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Ha Chan Ho confirmed that Vietnam is one of the RoK’s largest official development assistance (ODA) recipients. The RoK will control ODA provision in the future so there will be more favorable conditions for some provinces in Vietnam, including Quang Tri, to get the available capital, he noted. The signing of the agreement is part of the ongoing activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties. (vov.vn May 19)