"The congress will take place under the auspices of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific,” chairman of the meeting`s organising committee Zubairi Djoerban was quoted by Indonesia’s Antara news agency as saying. About 500 delegates from 50 countries are expected to take part in the congress, he added.

He said the Bali congress would carry the theme: “Empowering the People, Reinforcing Networks.”

According to the organiser, participants from Asia and the Pacific are expected to share experience, particularly those who are policy makers.