Former US President Bill Clinton, who has used his influence to
push for the global prevention and control of HIV/AIDS since
leaving the White House, attended the international seminar on
HIV/AIDS and SARS in Tsinghua University in Beijing on Monday.
He delivered a speech on global HIV/AIDS prevention and control
efforts.
Also speaking at the seminar are internationally renowned AIDS
researcher, Dr. David Ho, a Chinese American who pioneered the drug
cocktail treatment for AIDS patients, and China's AIDS ambassador,
famous Chinese actor Pu Cunxin.
China is facing an uphill struggle against the fast spreading of
the deadly disease in the country. Official statistics indicate
that there are 840,000 people in China infected with HIV virus or
became AIDS patients. That number ranks the second in Asia.
The nation is committed to offering free treatment to HIV
carriers and AIDS patients in the rural areas and to people in
urban AIDS-infected areas who face financial difficulties.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)