The Vietnamese delegation to the conference was led by the National Assembly’s Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong.

In his opening speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon underlined the necessity to raise the standards of leadership in strong parliaments to cope with challenges in the new era.

Parliaments need to deal with issues related to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, disarmament, ethnic, religious and economic tensions, and to promote justice and international laws to protect the interests of women and minority ethnic groups.

The UN Chief said that parliaments play an important role in promoting development and prosperity which will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under which the numbers of poor and sick people will be reduced by half by 2015.

During the three-day conference, the delegates will discuss solutions to the global economic downturn and current challenges such as climate change, food and energy security and the role of the IPU in narrowing the democratic gap in international relations.

They heard a report highlighting the IPU’s achievements over the last five years in implementing the MDGs, building global parliamentary standards and enhancing relations between the IPU and the UN.

Vice Chairwoman Phong is expected to deliver a speech at the conference on July 21 in her capacity as a member of the IPU Executive Committee.

During its stay in Switzerland, the Vietnamese delegation will visit the Vietnamese Embassy in Bern, the Permanent Vietnamese Mission to the UN and other Geneva-based international organisations.