PM asks to cut above-the-line expenditures in ODA projectsPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered ministries and State agencies to cut above-the-line expenditures and only spend the new ODA funds on development investment during a meeting on March 8. It gathered several relevant ministries and State agencies to discuss the management of Vietnam’s ODA and foreign soft loans. Attendees to the event agreed that ODA and foreign soft loans should be only used for development investment and not spent on above-the-line costs like purchases of cars. However, there is a lack of legal definitions to clarify the differences between development investment costs and above-the-line expenditures in ODA projects. He assigned the Ministry of Finance to make clear of the two expenditures and soon proposed to him for approval.-VNA