Japan pledges US$2.6 billion in ODA to Vietnam The Japanese Government has committed to grant US$2.6 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in 2013, nearly doubling last year’s figure (US$1.4 billion). The announcement was made by Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Tanizaki Yasuaki, at the three-day CG meeting which opened in Hanoi on December 10. He highly valued Vietnam’s macroeconomic policies to ensure sustainable growth through its 10-year socio-economic development strategy and five-year socio-economic development plan. He suggested Vietnam implement specific measures on economic restructuring, with a focus on building a healthy financial system, settling bad debts and rearranging State-owned enterprises (SOEs). He stressed that Vietnam’s sustainable growth is the key to regional stability and development. Japan will continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts in developing infrastructure and human resources, he added. Earlier on December 7, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stated that Japan will maintain ODA funding for Vietnam’s socio-economic development projects while receiving Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. He confirmed his government’s resolve to strengthen cooperation in various areas with Vietnam, considering this one of Japan’s priorities in its development cooperation policy. Source: VOV