Mr Khiem is expected to deliver speeches at a high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, and ministerial conferences of the Non-Aligned Movement and Group 77.

High on the agenda will be issues related to international peace and security, anti-terrorism efforts, food and energy security, the environment and trade liberalisation.

During his stay, Mr Khiem will have bilateral meetings with leaders of several UN member countries, UN agencies and US businesses and organisations to promote cooperation with Vietnam.

According to Le Hoai Trung, head of the International Organisation Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in August, Vietnam attended all meetings of the UN Security Council (UNSC), including those on the conflict in Georgia. The Vietnamese representative to the council called for peaceful solutions to all international disputes, in line with the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.

In September, Vietnam will continue to participate in UNSC meetings, focusing on the situation in Somalia, Cyprus, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Chad, Sudan and Iran, as well as the role of UN missions in Congo, Liberia, Chad, Central Africa, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.