An official opening ceremony was held in Beijing on the afternoon of 26 November 2002, in celebration of locating the headquarters of the United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery (APCAEM) at the capital of China. Mr. Kim Hak-Su,Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP,attended the ceremony.

Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Wen jiabao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP and Vice Premier of the State Council of the Government of China; Prof. Song Jian, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Prof. Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology of China; Prof.Xu Kuangdi, President of Chinese Academy of Engineering; Mr. Jouni Backman, Minister of Environment of Finland; members of the Governing Board of APCAEM; other high ranking officials of 11 ministries of China and diplomatic officials of the member countries of ESCAP and the EU.

1. Address at the Opening by Mr.Kim Hak-Su
2. Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Establishment of APCAEM (A translation version) by Mr. WEN Jiabao 
3. Address at the Opening by Mr. Jouni Backman

On the occasion of the Opening of APCAEM in Beijing, Mr. Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China met with Mr. Kim Hak-Su,Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, in Zhongnanhai on 27 November 2002

Vice Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and Mr. Kim Hak-Su,Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP are unveiling the plaque at the opening ceremony of APCAEM

At the Opening Ceremony of APCAEM in Beijing, China (from left: Mr.Li Zhaoxing, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China; Prof. Song Jian, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Mr. Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier of the State Council of China; Mr. Kim Hak-Su,Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP; Mr. Jouni Backman, Minister of Environment of Finland; Dr. Reynaldo I. Acda, Chairperson of the First Session of the Governing Board of APCAEM)

Prof. Song Jian hands over the key of the new office of APCAEM to Mr. Kim Hak-Su. Mr. Wen Jiabao is at present

Members of the Governing Board of APCAEM are holding their First Session in Beijing 26-27 November 2002