Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called for better administrative coordination between the centre and the for faster development of the country. He was addressing the first annual Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi.

The conference is organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It is the first such conference and will be held annually, according to an official statement.

The conference is aimed at institutionalising the process of interaction with states and union territories (UTs). It will serve as a standing forum for exchange of views between the centre and the states and provide an occasion for interaction on internal matters.

The issues relating to latest trends in technology, emerging global challenges and opportunities and key security concerns and the role of state governments would be discussed in the meeting, the statement said. It will also deliberate upon global developments that have a bearing on the country.

The conference is being attended by Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Prithviraj Chavan, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar, the secretary (ARPG&P), secretaries of the ministries and departments and the chief secretaries of the states and UTs.