Representatives from 14 provinces and cities of regional countries, which have established twinned relations with the Thai province of Ubon Ratchathani, met recently in the latter to discuss ways to boost cooperation.

These localities include Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quy Nhon and Kon Tum of Vietnam and 10 others of Laos , Cambodia , China , Japan , the Republic of Korea and Thailand .

Ubon Ratchathani province’s governor Surapol Saipan said the meeting was aimed at expanding cooperation in business, investment, education, culture, sports, tourism and health care between cities and provinces in the region, especially those in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

At a business and investment cooperation forum held as part of the meeting, Vietnamese commercial counsellor Nguyen Thanh Hung spoke of the investment and business opportunities and challenges in Vietnam .

The Vietnamese Trade Mission in Thailand is ready to work as a coordinator to organise meetings for businesses from the two countries and provide up-to-date information about the investment environment in both Vietnam and Thailand , Hung said.

A representative from Kon Tum province suggested the establishment of coordinating centres to step up trade and tourism cooperation, with the involvement of Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai provinces of Vietnam, Champasak of Laos and Ubon Ratchathani of Thailand./.