2. The Vice-Chair of WP.29, Mr. A. Erario (Italy), acting as Chair for this session, opened the 181st session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. He recalled the exceptional circumstances of this session due to the COVID-19 outbreak. He welcomed all delegates and thanked them for participating remotely at the session.

3. The Secretary of WP.29 provided information for meeting participants related to the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on the work of the World Forum and described consequent remote procedures that had been established for deliberations and voting processes within the Administrative Committees of the 1958 (AC.1) and 1998 (AC.3) Agreement.