Vietnam expects to receive more official development assistance (ODA) from France in the future and hopes the relations between the two countries, especially in defense and security, to be enhanced, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said. Mr. Dung made the statement at a recent meeting with French Minister of Labor Michel Sapin in the capital city of Hanoi. He expressed his expectations that the French government would assist Vietnam in economics, trade, investment, education and training, science and technology. The two sides should collaborate to plan celebrations for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France in 2013 and strengthen coordination at international forums, he said. Earlier, the French Development Agency (AFD) said that it will provide EUR80 million-EUR100 million per year in ODA during Vietnam’s socio-economic development from 2012 to 2015. “After 2015, further ODA from AFD for Vietnam will depend on the Vietnamese government’s demand and ODA-related risks in Vietnam as assessed by France’s government and banks,” Jean-Marc Gravellini, AFD director in Vietnam. AFD’s total ODA for Vietnam has amounted to EUR1.1 billion since 1997 and 11.2 million Vietnamese people have benefited over the past seven years. AFD is placed third among donors for Vietnam, after Japan and the South Korea. (Vietnam News Oct 27)
