During his visit to the People’s Republic of China, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé addressed the opening of the Fifth Conference for the International Cooperation Programme on AIDS in Shanghai. Mr Sidibé congratulated the country, saying, “China’s progress can invigorate an AIDS response that teaches and inspires the world.”

Access to antiretroviral therapy continues to expand at a rapid rate. Of the estimated 9.5 million people in need of treatment in 2008 in low- and middle-income countries, 42% had access, up from 33% in 2007. The greatest progress was seen in sub-Saharan Africa, where two-thirds of all HIV infections occur.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé concluded an official visit to Lebanon on 29 September. Mr Sidibé recognized and supported the country’s achievements in the HIV response and welcomed the Government of Lebanon’s strong commitment to introduce oral substitution therapy into the country’s public health system.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé attended the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and some bilateral events including the signing of an agreement with the Millenium Villages initiative.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé met with UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors, Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Ballack during a football match in Manchester. Michel Sidibé thanked them for their great support explaining how their outreach is an immense support to UNAIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé is paying his first official visit to Rwanda from 27 August to 3 September to recognize and support the achievements of the Government of Rwanda in the HIV response and conduct high-level advocacy for universal access to HIV services and the Millennium Development Goals.

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS spent two days in Lesotho 15 – 16 July 2009 where he met His Majesty, King Letsie III, Prime Minister Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili-Qhobosheaneng, members of civil society, Lesotho’s national AIDS Commission and other senior government officials.

At the 63rd session of the General Assembly held in New York on 16 June 2009, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented a report on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

The High-Level Forum on Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis took place at United Nations Headquarters on Monday, 15 June 2009. The Secretary-General hosted a day long forum in order to elevate the global health debate and engage multisectoral representatives from around the world.

On 7 July the Universal Postal Union and UNAIDS together with the International Labour Organization and UNI Global launched a global prevention awareness campaign at a press conference held in Palais des Nation, Geneva, Switzerland.