The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, (IPU) 
The Secretary-General of the IPU, 
Ladies and gentlemen, 
It is my pleasure and indeed honour for my country, Zambia, to host the IPU family for the next few days.

The hosting of the 134th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings constitutes an important milestone in the rich history of the African continent.  We expect it to leave an indelible mark on our memories, and to be part of our generational legacy.