Provinces and centrally-run cities across the country have succeeded inexpanding external relations, with 53 new cooperation agreements signedwith foreign partners last year, it was reported at an online conferenceheld by the Foreign Ministry on January 27.

Director of the External Affairs Department Phung The Long said around150 Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation were also signed betweenprovinces and cities with foreign companies and organisations, bringingin resources for local socio-economic development.

In his report, Long also noted that local authorities have paidattention to economic diplomacy via such measures as improving localinvestment environment, establishing hotlines or special taskforces toquickly address problems reported by investors and organising numerousinvestment and trade promotion activities. He cited the examples of HaNam, Quang Ninh and Ba Ria-Rung Tau provinces where local authoritieshold regular dialogues with investors.

Besides investment, provinces and cities tried to make the best use ofthe help from foreign non-governmental organisations to improvesocio-economic conditions in remote and disadvantaged areas.

The official said localities should continue with efforts to promoteeconomic integration in 2015, adding that the Foreign Ministry willassist all provinces and cities in these efforts.

Delegates from 63 provinces and cities nationwide shared experiences inpromoting international relations at the provincial level. They alsodiscussed measures to deal with problems in the work and enhance thecoordination between local authorities and the Foreign Ministry in thefield.-VNA