The President welcomed Fellows and their guests to the Anniversary General Meeting. He thanked all those who had contributed to the success of the Society's activities during 2010–2011, especially the Director, the staff, and those who had given Public Lectures. The Society's 188th birthday on 15 March 2011 had been celebrated at the Oriental Club. After dinner the President had praised the enterprise of the founding Fellows, who had clearly seen the urgency of improving the West's understanding of Asia. He stressed that the contemporary need for such understanding was as urgent. He repeated this message at the Anniversary General Meeting and assured Fellows that to this end the Society seeks to increase its membership, encourage research through publication, and involve a wider public through lectures. Finally the President reported on a new collaboration with Cambridge University Press which will make items from the Society's holdings widely available by electronic means and also through print on demand. He then invited the Treasurer to present his report.

Fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to present the annual Report and Financial Statements of your Society for the year ended 31 December 2010, copies of which you should have found on your seats.