Local authorities have been urged to appoint international development officers and "think globally".

The Local Government Association said on Thursday that local councils should increase their international activity and consider appointing an elected member and officer responsible for international development issues.

However modest councils should not see its work with other countries as a peripheral activity subject to the vagaries of party political support, the association said.

Currently the extent of most local authorities links outside of its boundaries are in twin town schemes but as a result of councils implementing Agenda 21 directives from the Rio Earth Summit the association now thinks its members have proved they can "think globally".

International development should be an important part of local government's activities with local and national cross-party commitment. Authorities could act on an individual, county-wide or regional basis, the report suggested.

With cheaper world travel, global capitalism now a reality and technology such as the internet making the world smaller, "local government cannot afford to be insular and inward looking".

"It has a lot to gain through the exchange of experience, ideas and good practice internationally. Local government plays a crucial role in alleviating the poverty that still afflicts over one third of the world's population," said the report.