The Chinese State Council underscored the importance of fighting HIV/AIDS by setting forth nine steps for its prevention and control at an executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday.

China's HIV/AIDS existing systems of prevention and treatment are at a crucial crossroads.

The nine steps are:

One, governments at all levels must fully realize the importance and urgency of the HIV/AIDS crisis and further define working guidelines.

Two, all of society should also actively participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Three, governments at all levels and social organizations must formulate action plans, define working objectives, tasks and policies and list HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment work as a key public health objective in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10). Funding must be allocated for these programs and activities when devising government budgets.

HIV/AIDS education must be strengthened to improve public awareness. Monitoring networks should be improved for overall control of the epidemic.

Four, crackdowns on drug trafficking, drug use and increased efforts in relation to the higher-risk groups must be continued.

Five, blood collection and the operation of blood centers must be legalized.

Local governments must continue to provide free treatment to HIV carriers, including free anti-virus medicine, free anonymous testing and free medicine for HIV-positive women who might be pregnant. Free services must also include education for orphans of AIDS victims and after-care and financial aid to families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Six, the legal rights of HIV carriers must be protected, social discrimination must be tackled, and the moral and legal education of carriers strengthened.

Seven, HIV/AIDS prevention and a control of the rural and migrant populations must be strengthened. Governments at all levels must give more support to rural areas and formulate preventive measures specially tailored to rural and migrant populations.

Eight, scientific research on HIV/AIDS, which includes vaccines and other drugs must be speeded up. Research institutes must explore effective means for treating HIV/AIDS combining traditional Chinese and western medicines. Training for professional medical teams must also be strengthened.

Finally, the meeting called for an improvement to the legal framework of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. All work in this area should be regulated by law.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2005)