Vietnam’s ministries, sectors and their development partners need to promote cooperation and information sharing so as to swiftly achieve the country’s development targets set forth in 2013, said Victoria Kwakwa, Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam.

At a conference reviewing the outcomes of the Vietnam Development Partnership Forum 2013 (VDPF 2013) in Hanoi on November 5, Kwakwa said the local authorities and development partners have exerted efforts in implementing the goals and gained remarkable achievements, especially in poverty reduction and water supply.

She emphasised the need for more collaboration among the sides and the engagement of people and social organisations in clarifying targets that should be achievements during the VDPF 2014.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, with the support of partners, the four groups of actions adopted at VDPF 2013 have been implemented effectively, reaping positive results. They included poverty reduction, the private sector’s participation in supplying public services, vocational training, and environmental management.

VDPF 2013 marked the first time Vietnamese agencies and their development partners had performed a new policy dialogue mechanism, discussed and built comprehensive action programmes, with a focus on addressing prioritised policy groups.

VDPF was firstly held in 2013, replacing the Consultative Group Meeting of Donors. It reflects the new position of Vietnam, from being a recipient of official development assistance (ODA) to become a development partner of other countries and international organisations.

VDPF 2014, which is scheduled to open in December, will focus on reforming economic institutions and strengthening self-reliance and competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy.-VNA