China to expand input to fight HIV: Premier

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday promised more work on prevention and treatment of AIDS and is willing to cooperate with other countries to combat HIV. Li made the remarks when visiting Beijing's YouAn Hospital, home to a center for HIV/AIDS treatment, just ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. Latest figure suggests there were 436,800 people living with HIV/AIDS in China at the end of 2013, and 136,300 had died following infection. Noting that China still boasts low HIV rates, Li said the government must assume the principle role in combating HIV and would continue to increase input on its prevention and treatment. Efforts should be made to strengthen HIV screening, focus on high risk groups, and seek breakthroughs in the development of new-generation vaccines and drugs to counter the virus, he said. HIV prevention and treatment measures that have been proven to be technologically sound, economically affordable and socially benefitting should be promoted across the country, Li said, adding that efforts must be made first to ensure zero mother-to-child infections. The premier said the government would rely more on the private sector, set up HIV prevention funds, and perfect its tax reduction and exemption policies for public welfare social organizations. It would also work to ensure HIV-positive patients' access to equal employment and medical treatment, and improve their life quality. China is also willing to deepen cooperation and share its experiences with the world in combating HIV, Li said.