The British Government recently announced that it would donate
30 million pounds (US$56.5 million) to support China's battle
against HIV and AIDS.
International Development Minister Gareth Thomas said the money
would be used in China's national HIV and AIDS program over the
next four-and-a-half years.
The funding will be aimed at vulnerable groups such as sex
workers, injecting drug users, women and children in 112 counties
across the country.
It will also be used to promote the use of condoms, the
diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and
voluntary counseling and testing.
China currently has an estimated 650,000 HIV/AIDS patients. It
has set the goal of keeping the number of its HIV/AIDS patients
below 1.5 million by 2010.
Meanwhile, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is close to
reaching a landmark agreement to start an AIDS initiative in China,
a spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday.
The foundation, headed by Gates, the world's richest man, and
his wife, is in final-stage talks to sign a memorandum of
understanding that would provide help to China as it tackles the
spread of HIV.
A final funding decision for China has not been made.
(China Daily August 21, 2006)