Department of HCMC External Affairs held a conference yesterday in order to summarize foreign affairs jobs in 2014.

Attending the conference was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son, Deputy Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem.

Last year, Department of HCMC External Affairs welcomed nearly 116 foreign delegates to Ho Chi Minh City, including delegates from Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, President of the European Commission Manuel Barroso, particularly, HCMC welcomed Japanese leaders, enterprise, local authorities.

In addition, the department contacted 21 city leadership delegates with foreign visits, aiming to boost further investment, trade and tourist cooperation.

In 2013, Ho Chi Minh City established relationships with Australia’s northern territory and Japan’s Shiga province, bringing a total of 220 countries and territories worldwide set up friendly and cooperative relations with Ho Chi Minh City.

Director of Department of HCMC External Affairs Nguyen Hong Linh reported that as 2014 plan, the department carried out major external affairs activities including the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the southern region and National Reunification, supporting knowledge for community about ASEAN Economic Community as well as launching information about Vietnam joins in Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).