'Korea Aid' Program to Assist Laos with Various Projects
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said on Tuesday that her country will help Laos establish rural areas and industrial infrastructure under the "Korea Aid" program, a Korea Times report said.
"Korea Aid" is a new method of Official Development Assistance (ODA) that provides various range of contributions such as food, culture, and healthcare by sending trucks directly to local areas in isolated communities.
South Korea first started the program in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya during the President's trip to Africa in May.
In an interview with the Vientiane Times, Laos' state-run English newspaper, Park said, "I hope my visit to Laos will contribute to expanding bilateral ties in every sector. In particular, I will expand the Korea Aid program to Laos soon."
The South Korean leader arrived in Vientiane, the capital and largest city in Laos, on Tuesday to attend ASEAN-related forums and meetings and hold her first summit with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachith, who took office in April.
Park is the first South Korean President to visit Laos since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties in 1995.
Park further said, "I look forward to discussions with President Vorachith on how to bolster substantive, mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, energy, and development cooperation."
South Korea has been thriving to build ties and connections with countries that have remained in close relations with North Korea, which includes Laos, as part of the country's efforts to build stronger international unity versus the North's nuclear development.
Park also wanted her meeting with Vorachith to offer a chance for cooperation in non-economic areas. She said, "I also expect to discuss measures to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges even more with a view to enhancing mutual understanding between the people of our two nations."
She also mentioned that her government is considering of allowing Laotians to work in South Korea. The President said that Korean ODA has contributed to Laos' development with 14 ODA projects valued at $70 million which are currently in progress and additional support will also be given.
She concluded, "Korea plans to provide additional support for various other projects in the years to come, such as a building with increased capacity for a vocational skills development institute and for the immigration office as well as the Mekdong Integrated Water Resources Management Project in Vientiane."
