As the world’s first woman Prime Minister, the UN Conference on Women, being held fifteen years after her first election, saw Mrs Bandaranaike delivering the keynote address in Mexico. Articulating the role of women and emphasizing their contribution at the Conference, Mrs Bandaranaike said “We are not here only to demolish discrimination but to envision the benefits to the human race of integrating this forgotten half of humanity in development.” Having held discussions with Mexican President Luis Echeverría Álvarez and senior Ministers in his Government, Mrs Bandaranaike was able to secure Mexico’s agreement to purchase a larger quantity of cinnamon. During her stay she also met with Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme and the first woman in space, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.