"I care... Do you?"

That was the message printed on posters in subway stations and other public places in Beijing on Saturday - World AIDS Day.

The posters, which also included information about the deadly disease and how to prevent it, were part of a concentrated nationwide campaign against HIV/AIDS launched on Saturday.

The Chinese Ministry of Health and Beijing's health department held activities to inform people about AIDS and offered public consultations at Xidan Cultural Square in downtown Beijing, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Representatives from 12 international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), were present and commended China's AIDS prevention efforts.

More than 1,600 medical workers and volunteers, led by Pu Cunxin, movie star and one of the country's AIDS prevention spokespersons, participated in a long-distance run in the capital to raise awareness about the deadly disease.

Balloons with cards from well-wishers flew into Beijing - part of an effort to send 50,000 balloons across the Asia-Pacific region to show concern for AIDS patients worldwide, Xinhua reported.

Organizers hope the event will increase public awareness about AIDS, encourage in-depth discussions on the care of HIV carriers and make the public more supportive of AIDS patients.

Local media in other Chinese cities also reported on HIV/AIDS activities on Saturday, as part of the public awareness campaign.

(China Daily December 3, 2001)