The central and southern provinces have made recognisable progress in their external affairs, contributing to deepening the country’s friendship with neighbouring countries and others around the world, said a senior diplomat.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong was speaking at a meeting between the Foreign Ministry and central and southern localities on external affairs in 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City on August 16.

Through external activities, the central and southern provinces have scaled up the strengthening of landmarks along the country’s border with Laos and the demarcation and planting of border markers along the border with Cambodia , he said.

The localities have taken part in strengthening the Sea and Island Steering Board to ensure that information on the situation at the East Sea is provided consistently and any problem arising on the sea is handled promptly.

He also noted that these localities, especially the Central Highlands and southwestern ones, have focused greatly on disseminating the Party and State’s ethnic and religious policies.

The external activities have helped the economy in the southern provinces continue to grow robustly and the central areas post exceptional growth rates, to support the national economy and stand firmly in the global economy, Cuong said.

At the meeting, representatives of these localities showed their interest in the execution of legal regulations and documents relating to external affairs, the Foreign Ministry’s instruction, coordination and support in the external relations for localities, and the provision of information between the ministry and localities and Vietnamese representative offices abroad./.