Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised Friday that China, as a big
and responsible developing country, will make its contribution to
the regional and global fight against AIDS.
In an article issued prior to the 15th International AIDS
Conference to be held in Bangkok next week, Wen called on the
whole Chinese society to prevent and control the disease, saying
AIDS is a major public health and social issue facing the
international community.
With the technical help of United Nations institutions,
including the World Health
Organization, the Chinese Ministry of Health found in a survey
last year that there were about 840,000 HIV carriers in China,
including 80,000 AIDS patients, mainly in rural areas.
The premier said China is in a key period of time for AIDS
prevention and control since the disease is spreading from
high-risk groups to ordinary people in some areas, and the impact
of the spread on social and economic development in some areas has
begun to emerge.
"Governments at all levels and the whole society should attach
great importance to AIDS prevention and control," he said, adding
the government should mobilize the whole community to curb the
spread of the disease through down-to-earth prevention and control
work.
With regard to the guidelines on AIDS prevention and control,
Wen said China would continue its policy of relying on prevention
as a fundamental measure while stressing medical treatment.
He said the leadership of government in the fight against AIDS
is essential and intergovernmental cooperation and participation of
the whole society is also important.
All AIDS prevention and control efforts should be made in
accordance with the law while relying on science and technology,
said the premier. He also called on scientists to work hard to
develop new drugs and optimize therapies.
Describing AIDS prevention and control as a long-term, arduous
task, Wen urged efforts to strengthen monitoring of the disease so
as to have timely, accurate information about the overall
development of the disease, while widely spreading knowledge about
AIDS and taking all measures to cut off its spread through behavior
intervention.
Wen promised the Chinese government would offer more help to
AIDS victims and continue to protect their legitimate rights and
interests, while increasing investment in programs to improve the
country's capability in AIDS prevention and control.
The government would also continue to strengthen international
exchanges and cooperation in AIDS prevention and control, the
premier said.
For many years, China has conducted fruitful cooperation with
more than 20 international organizations and countries in AIDS
prevention and control projects in China, he said.
The Chinese government and the Chinese people are confident and
capable of winning the battle against AIDS and will make greater
contribution to the human society's eventual victory over AIDS, the
premier concluded.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2004)