A week long regional workshop on HIV Aids in the Pacific has started in the Fiji President's village of Viseisei in Vuda.
The workshop, entitled 'Accelerating Action Against Aids in the Pacific', is co-sponsored by the UNAIDS and Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs.
The chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, says President Ratu Josefa Iloilo gave the opening speech during a two and a half hour ceremony which took longer than expected.
Ratu Epeli says the workshop is hosting delegates from all over the world.
"All in all, its been a very good start and we're very pleased with being the co-sponsors of this meeting to see so many people from the region being involved. I guess it would be about 250 people, 16 countries throughout the Pacific."
The workshop runs until Friday.