Welcome to IGWG nine (IGWG9). Let me begin by thanking Ambassador Tovar of Brazil, and Vice-Chairs Ambassador Dlamini of Eswatini, Dr Al-Mandhari of Oman and Dr Viroj of Thailand, for their steadfast leadership. I am also very pleased to welcome Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou of France to the Bureau. We now have an almost complete Bureau, and I strongly urge Member States of the Western Pacific Region to put forward a nominee to complete this important leadership team. Over the past few months, I have carried one message to every WHO Regional Committee: let us finish the job. Member States made history when you adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Now we must complete the PABS Annex so that the Agreement can enter into force. And there is strong political support, as Ambassador Tovar said earlier, for you to do it. Just a few weeks ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its Political Declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Heads of State and Government welcomed the Pandemic Agreement and called for the PABS negotiations to be concluded. But ultimately, the reason for finishing this work is not legal or procedural. It is about protecting people. Because a pathogen threat anywhere...