Former US President Bill Clinton arrived in Beijing on Wednesday
night after a tour of Asia's tsunami-hit regions and signed a
cooperation agreement on HIV/AIDS treatment with the Ministry of
Health.
Clinton, who has been deeply involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and
control since his presidency, promised to donate medicines for
Chinese children living with HIV.
"What impressed me most is how quickly and how much you've done
in preventing HIV/AIDS," he told Executive Vice Health Minister Gao
Qiang after the signing ceremony.
The government estimates that there are at least 840,000 Chinese
with HIV, of whom around 80,000 are thought to have AIDS.
In April 2004, the Clinton Foundation signed a memorandum of
understanding with the health ministry, promising to provide
technical assistance in HIV/AIDS care and treatment.
Clinton said he was encouraged by the smooth cooperation between
the foundation and China in helping to prevent the spread of HIV,
and that it would continue to provide support.
Gao said the government remains firm in fighting the spread of
the virus and will continue to strengthen its policies and measures
for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, including free treatment for
those with financial difficulties.
Gao told Clinton that the current challenges for China lie in a
weak monitoring network, lack of new medication and shortage of
experienced doctors.
"We hope we can improve technical and information exchange with
the Clinton Foundation and other international organizations to
solve these problems," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2005)