After the opening session on May 31, Vietnamese delegates joined international experts in a round-table discussion on experiences and expertise in HIV control as well as long-term measures against the pandemic.

On the sidelines of the summit, Vietnamese delegates will meet with leaders of UN development agencies, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNAIDS, to present Vietnam's co-operation programmes for the years to come.

Vietnam has achieved positive results in its HIV/AIDS control programme, helping to prevent the development of a pandemic.

The success is attributed to great attention paid by authorities at all levels, a strong legal system and a well-organised relevant network.

State budget allocations to the fight have been increasing and international cooperation in this field has been expanding, say local experts.

Since the country's first case was detected in 1990, Vietnam has announced an estimated number of 103,000 HIV/AIDS carriers, of whom 17,000 have developed full-blown AIDS and almost 10,000 have died.