MACAO, Oct. 9, 2007 -- The High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging kicked off here Tuesday.

Some 100 delegates representing 26 countries and regions and 15non-governmental organizations attended the three-day meeting.

Chui Sai On, Macao's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, said at the opening ceremony that Macao fully agrees that national and international joint action is an effective vehicle to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by population aging in the era of globalization.

The meeting is to set up a platform for the review and identification of good practice and further actions on aging matters in the Asia-Pacific region, said the official.

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging was launched by the United Nations in 1982 in an effort to tackle problems triggered by the aging world population.