90% of China's new HIV infections through sex

Ninety percent of newly reported HIV/AIDS patients in China over the past ten years were infected through sexual contact, a disease prevention official said Thursday.

According to Wu Zunyou, director of the HIV/AIDS division of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of all new cases reported as of June resulted from heterosexual practices, and 20 percent through homosexual contact.

Wu revealed the information during an online interview hosted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Wu noted that some 230,000 HIV/AIDS patients have received antiviral treatments since they were first introduced in the country in 2004.

Wu also cited various government policies as well as campaigns jointly conducted by government departments and LGBT groups, which have played key roles in promoting safe sex and HIV/AIDS treatments.

With an estimated 48,000 to 50,000 new HIV/AIDS infections every year, Wu said the government aims to reduce new infections by 25 percent and HIV/AIDS mortality by 30 percent by the end of 2015.