French donors expect strong anti-graft commitment from Vietnam
HANOI - France will continue to increase official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in 2006 when the Vietnamese government engages in effective anti-corruption work, said French Ambassador to Vietnam Jeans-Francois Blarel.
Ambassador Blarel was speaking with a Vietnam News Agency reporter on the sidelines of the Mid-term Consultative Group Meeting for Vietnam 2006 (CG), which is taking place in central Khanh Hoa province's Nha Trang City on June 9-10.
Among Vietnam's largest corruption cases was the Project Management Unit 18 (PMU 18) scandal, the ambassador said. To avoid doubt of Vietnam's effective ODA use, Vietnamese leaders need to clear away donors' worries and express their strong determination in the fight against corruption.
The French Ambassador said: "I know that Vietnam has worked out an overall strategy as well as a concrete plan to combat corruption, which will be introduced to people and donors in the coming time. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem told us that no one (in the PMU 18 scandal) is exempt from punishments and there have been ministers and deputy ministers who resigned their posts over the past two years. Once again, we expect strong commitments from the Vietnamese Government in the fight against corruption."
Regarding Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Blarel expressed his hope that the country will join the global trade body soon and that the nations requiring WTO negotiations with Viet Nam will help it prepare for the WTO entry.
The French diplomat stressed that Vietnam still has much work to do, including training human resources for civil administration agencies as well as businesses in order to produce high-quality and competitive products for the international market. France has implemented many projects in this field in Vietnam and is willing to further promote cooperation with country, he added.
Vietnam News Agency - June 12, 2006
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