Attending the opening ceremony were UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, IPU President Theo-Ben Gurirab, Swiss President Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey and parliamentary leaders from 130 countries around the world.

Under discussion are disarmament, situations in the Middle East and North Africa, financial market regulations, global management, health care for women and children and green economy.

Bilateral dialogues have been held by participants coming from different parts of the world with a view to ending the on-going conflicts.

Established in 1889, the Geneva-based union is the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. Current it has 157 members.