Mr. Toshitami Kaibara, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Mr. Kazutoshi Sasayama, M ayor of Kobe, the Honorable Taro Nakayama, Chairman of Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP), the Honorable Shin Sakurai, Chairman, Asian Forum of Parlia-mentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), Dr. Prasop R atanakorn, Secretary General of AFPPD, Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director, Un ited Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) represented by Mr. Katsuhide Kitatani, Se nior Adviser of UNFPA, Mr. V. T. Palan, Regional Director of the East and Sout h East Asia and Oceania Region, Interna-tional Planned Parenthood Federation ( IPPF), the honorable parliamentary delegates and ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to say a few words on behalf of the Asian Population and Dev elopment Association (APDA) on the occasion of the Thirteenth Asian Parliament arians' Meeting on Population and Development.

It was two years ago when the City of Kobe was struck by a devastating earthqu ake of historic proportions. The city has risen from the disaster like an phoe nix. I have noth-ing but admiration and respect for all those who has had a ha nd in rebuilding the city considering the amount of courage and work it must h ave taken.

This time the Asian Population and Development Association has decided to hold the Meeting here in Kobe in part to have an opportunity of sharing the miracul ous recovery with the distinguished parliamentarians who in many ways have sup ported it. I would like at this time to especially thank the City of Kobe, Mr. Yukio Takenaka, Executive Director, Kobe International Association, Mr. Daisak u Komatsu, Secretary General, Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe and the s taff at the secretariat for their most generous cooperation.

The Asian Parliamentarians' Meeting on Population and Development, APDA meetin g for short, is held once a year and this is the thirteenth meeting . The Asso ciation which is a juridical foundation was established by the late Takashi Sa to, the former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the purpose of supporting Asian legislators com-mitted to the enormous challenge of popula tion and development. Whether or not the humankind is able to build a bright future is wholly dependent on whether we can resolve the population issues and realize sustainable development in harmony with the environ-ment.