The Chinese government will allocate 800 million yuan (US$100 million) to support AIDS prevention and treatment in 2005, said Health Minister Gao Qiang in Beijing Wednesday at a press conference.

In comparison, the figure in 2002 was 100 million yuan (US$12.5 million).

The money is mainly used for AIDS check, AIDS knowledge promotion, treatment of AIDS patients, and prevention among high-risk people, said Gao.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2005)