1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, hosted the first “Korea-Lao Integrated ODA (official development assistance) Policy Dialogue” in Vientiane, Laos, on November 2. The head delegates from the Republic of Korea and Laos were Director-General for Development Cooperation Jeong Jin-kyu of the Foreign Ministry and Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Kikeo Chanthaboury, respectively.

※ In 2017, the ROK held the Integrated ODA Policy Dialogue bilaterally with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia, during which the two sides conducted a comprehensive review of the progress in grant and other financial assistance projects, and sought ways to enhance the connectivity among projects and to promote mutual understanding between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance co-host the meeting and alternately lead the ROK delegation to the event.

2. Laos is one of the ROK’s 24 main ODA partners and its highly significant partner for development cooperation. In view of its growing relations with Laos of late, the ROK held its first Integrated ODA Policy Dialogue with the country in 2017.

※ From 1987 till 2016, Laos received from the ROK a combined 350 million US dollars in ODA, the 11th largest of its kind from the country.

3. At the meeting, the two countries discussed their respective ODA policies and strategies; the progress in the ROK’s grant and other financial assistance projects in Laos as well as relevant plans; and project-related issues. They sought ways that the ROK’s ODA to Laos can be implemented in a more integrated, systematic and effective manner.

※ The ROK government plans to seek the best possible results from the assistance projects and to contribute to socio-economic development of Laos. To that end, pursuant to the Country Partnership Strategy concluded with Laos in December 2016, it will channel 70% of its assistance fund into the main areas of cooperation -- water management, healthcare and sanitation; energy; education; and rural development.

4. The meeting, which came after the bilateral foreign ministerial meeting in Seoul on August 29; the seventh ROK-Mekong foreign ministerial meeting in Busan on September 1; and the fifth ROK-Mekong business forum in Vientiane on October 19, is seen to have contributed to the advancement of the ROK-Laos relations.

° Furthermore, it is expected to help the ROK government enhance its diplomatic relations with ASEAN, which it has lately been focusing on for diplomatic diversification; implement its pledge to render assistance to the Mekong region; and carry out grant aid projects, one of its policy tasks, through interagency cooperation and in an integrated way.


* unofficial translation