Vietnam suggests support from Japan in providing new-generation official development assistance (ODA) with simplified, flexible procedures, highly concessional terms, and a sufficient amount.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (middle) and JICA President Kitaoka Shinichi (l). Source: VGP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave the remarks during a meeting with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kitaoka Shinichi on November 24.

According to Chinh, the ODA would be focused on six fields, including enhancing health capabilities, especially health facilities at grassroots levels and preventive healthcare; reducing carbon emission and boosting climate resilience in the Mekong Delta region, the central region, and northern mountainous areas; digitalization; sustainable development; improving social welfare, and developing strategic infrastructure system.

“Vietnam aims to enhance efficiency in the utilization of the ODA and create favorable conditions for JICA experts to come to Vietnam during the pandemic,” Chinh said.

On this occasion, Chinh expressed his delight at the progress of the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership in all spheres, which is built on a high level of political trust.

Overview of the meeting.

The prime minister thanked the Japanese Government for its active contribution to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, including investment in infrastructure networks via the ODA source in the past 30 years.

“In this regard, the JICA has been essential in implementing ODA-financed projects in Vietnam, as well as donating over four million of vaccine doses and other medical equipment to aid Vietnam’s Covid-19 response,” Chinh said.

Chinh expressed his confidence in the Japanese economic prospect and hoped the two countries would enhance cooperation in the Covid-19 fight and economic recovery.

Referring to infrastructure development as one of Vietnam’s three key strategic breakthroughs for development in the 2021-2030 period, Chinh said the country needs huge investment capital to further develop strategic infrastructure projects, with Japan being a key partner in terms of ODA.

For his part, JICA President Kitaoka Shinichi highlighted the effectiveness of ODA projects in Vietnam.

Shinichi noted the successful model of major Vietnamese hospitals built with JICA assistance would be the reference point for the agency to build 100 other hospitals in different countries.

The JICA representative ratified his commitment to continue supporting Vietnam’s economic development, focusing on cooperation in healthcare, public investment, and human resources development.