Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (right) receives President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Chang Won-sam in Hanoi on March 19. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang gave a reception in Hà Nội on March 19 for President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Chang Won-sam, during which the guest said official development assistance (ODA) from the Republic of Korea (RoK) for Việt Nam will increase to more than US$52 million, nearly doubling the figure of 2023.

The Deputy PM highly appreciated the RoK’s ODA for Việt Nam, saying that it has contributed to Việt Nam’s socio-economic development. He hoped that the RoK will become Việt Nam's largest ODA provider in the near future.

He highlighted that development cooperation is a focus of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and the RoK. By the end of 2023, the Korean Government's non-refundable aid through KOICA to Việt Nam had reached about US$600 million.

Quang proposed KOICA in general and the KOICA President personally continue their support, contributing to the development of the ties between the two countries in general and between Việt Nam and KOICA in particular.

The Deputy PM wished that the RoK will continue to increase the scale of non-refundable aid to Việt Nam, especially in innovation, digital transformation, and high-tech development.

He also proposed KOICA consider urging the Korean Government to have official commitment to a rural power supply project in Việt Nam’s northern province of Điện Biên.

For his part, KOICA President Chang Won-sam said that his current visit to Việt Nam is to assess the implementation of KOICA's projects in Việt Nam and discuss cooperation orientations to concretise ODA commitment for the 2024-2027 period by Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol during his visit to Việt Nam last June.

The Korean government and KOICA attach great importance to relations with Việt Nam, he added.

Established in 1991, KOICA is in charge of non-refundable aid projects of the Korean Government, with the increasing capital scale. In recent times, KOICA's ODA projects in Việt Nam have focused on public administration, health care, and education. The two sides are considering the expansion to such new areas as climate change adaptation and digital transformation.