An AIDS research center was opened Tuesday by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Beijing Union Medical College in the Chinese capital.

Former president of the United States Bill Clinton, who is also chairman of the International Fund for Prevention of AIDS, inspected the center and addressed the opening function.

Clinton said that the establishment of the center, as an important step in the process of enforcing AIDS prevention, control and research, would enhance the international cooperation in this field.

Gao Qiang, executive vice-minister of public health, congratulated the center's establishment and expressed his hope that the center would contribute to the prevention and control of AIDS by working in more close cooperation with the international research agencies.

The Chinese government attaches close importance to the prevention work and has prioritized it and placed it high on its agenda, Gao said.

As a prestigious institute integrating medical education, scientific research and medical treatment in the country, the academy and the college have become crucial bases for clinical treatment of AIDS patients.

Professor Wang Aixia of the college diagnosed the Chinese mainland's first AIDS patient in 1985.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2003)