Present at the conference were ministers and senior officials in charge of agriculture, animal husbandry and health sectors from 77 countries plus territories and representatives from international organisations, and the United Nations.

The conference aims to discuss measures to cope with bird flu and other epidemics in the future.

Vietnam’s Minister of Health, Nguyen Quoc Trieu said that in recent times, Vietnam has devised a number of measures to cope with the flu types A/H5N1 and A/H1N1. The country has also worked with the international community to prevent of bird flu from spreading and has achieved certain results.

Participants at the conference emphasised the need for international co-operation to fight against epidemics, especially in the current situation as the disease continues to threaten the life and health of human beings and the development of the livestock industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan thanked the international community support for Vietnam in combating the epidemics.