Let me at the outset extend my warm welcome to all of you to Vientiane and to this important regional review meeting, which the Lao PDR has the honour to host. This meeting is of great importance for the preparation of the global ten-year review of the Almaty Prgram of Action and I express my sincere appreciation to all of you for your presence and participation in this meeting. I am confident that with your full and active participation our deliberation would render a fruitful outcome and great success