WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Photo: Salvatore Di Nolfi/AP)

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the World Health Assembly on Monday in Geneva by expressing confidence that an agreement will be secured despite negotiations failing to meet the deadline after two and a half years of discussions.

Tedros said the task before the negotiators is immense – technically, legally, and politically – and they have been operating on a very ambitious timeline. Negotiators have demonstrated a clear commitment to reaching an agreement, he said, and countries have shown a determination to keep pushing for an accord.

The Assembly will continue until June 1.