Welcome to Beijing and IAU XXVIII General Assembly. Although the world economic situation continues to show stress, the science of astronomy is flourishing on many fronts. True, we are not immune to the negative effects of sharply reduced funding for projects and positions, yet our do-main sees increased international collaboration, pioneering facilities and techniques in development, and significant discoveries that are changing the way humanity thinks about the universe and our place in it. Programs that the IAU has undertaken such as the United Nations International Year of Astronomy 2009 and the creation of the Office of Astronomy for Development in Cape Town have been hugely successful.