The Vietnamese delegation also participated in IPU executive sessions from September 30-October 4.

The three-day assembly starting on October 4 is expected to discuss major issues such as cooperation between IPU and the United Nations, including results of the recent UN summit on millennium development goals.

Delegates will discuss a wide range of urgent issues proposed by member parliaments, including immigration and development, healthy legal frameworks to prevent violence during elections, improvement of election oversight, the role of parliaments in ensuring sustainable development through management of natural resources, agricultural production and demography, IPU President Theo Ben Gurirab said at the opening session.

Established in 1889, the Geneva-based IPU is the oldest multinational political organisation. It now has 155 member countries and nine inter-parliamentary groups.