Regional leaders, governments, global organisations, medical researchers, community organisations, activists and many others have gathered in Busan, South Korea to attend the 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP).
Between 26 and 30 August, more than 2500 people from 64 countries have convened to discuss regional, national and local approaches to combating what is one of the world's biggest killers.
This year's ICAAP theme was 'Diverse Voices, United Action', and the region's largest forum on HIV and AIDS has lived up to its mantra.
Key leaders began the conference with the AIDS Champions meeting at Nurimaru APEC House on Friday, 26 August. They reaffirmed their call for the international community to ensure the response to the disease remains a joint effort and to maintain the momentum gained over the past few years.
Speaking at the Champions Meeting, Australia's Ambassador for HIV, Murray Proctor said the world had made good progress but there is still much more that needs to be done.
'We have to broaden our understanding of how this challenge can be met and we have to reach out to the groups who find it difficult to endorse the actions we need to take,' Mr Proctor said.
Other representatives who shared Mr Proctor's sentiments included UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, President of Fiji Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Young Soo Shun, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Executive Director of External Relations Christoph Benn, and representatives from the Korean government and civil society.
'We need champions, we need leadership – it's the only way we will have access to affordable medicines, the only way we will be able to reform discrimination,' Mr Sidibé said.
'Let's accept that our collective effort is important and our solidarity is critical.'
Sessions have been held over the three days covering a range of key issues vital in the world's struggle to meet Millennium Development Goal 6–combating the spread of HIV and AIDS by 2015.
Key affected populations, community groups and youth have been well represented at this year's ICAAP, crucial to ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences are shared.
Currently, more than 33 million people are living with HIV, with those most affected being people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, women and youth from key affected populations.
Australia sees this as a critical area of concern and over the past decade has invested around $1 billion on HIV and AIDS activities.
The two largest programs are currently operating in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea–our two closest neighbours.
Australia's programs focus on HIV prevention, strengthening health systems, advocating for policy and legal reform and supporting people living with and affected by HIV.
ICAAP 11 will be held in Chiang Mai Thailand in 2013.