Opening ceremony of the commemoration on the centennial of the convening of the International Opium Commission Thursday, February 26, 2009 in Shanghai, China.

• Statement by Professor Hamid Ghodse, President of the International Narcotics Control Board at the opening ceremony.

Looking back at a century of international drug control and the history, achievements and challenges of the three international drug control conventions ( Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs,1961 --- Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 --- United Nations Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. 1988.)

Professor Hamid Ghodse , President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), (2nd from right), Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (2nd from left) with Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu, (center) and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, (far right) unveil the commemorative artifact during the opening ceremony of the commemoration on the centennial of the convening of the International Opium Commission today Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 in Shanghai, China.