To mark the occasion, the couple plan to hold their wedding ceremony on December 1-World AIDS Day- in the nation's capital, Beijing.

This was the first officially sanctioned marriage in China to be made public-since new regulations relating to HIV/AIDS came into force in 1999-between an uninfected man and a HIV carrying woman, China Youth Daily reported.

The newlyweds are both native to Guiyang. The 28-year-old bride, who has asked to remain anonymous, was infected with the AIDS virus through drug-taking five years ago.

In despair she twice tried to commit suicide, but with her devoted boyfriend's support, she was encouraged to start her life afresh.

Detailed medical checks on several occasions showed that the husband-to-be was not infected and eventually he and his fiancee were given permission to marry.

The case sparked a heated debate on the Internet. Web surfers exchanged views on questions such as whether HIV infection should be an absolute barrier to marriage, or if the uninfected spouse will be at risk.

Guangzhou Daily joined in the debate when it reported that this recently publicized marriage is not in fact the first of its kind. They carried a story concerning a married couple, where one party is similarly infected in South China's Guangdong Province who have lived together as man and wife for four years.

Safe-sex measures have ensured that the wife has not passed the virus on to her husband, said the report which did not identify the couple.

HIV carriers and AIDS sufferers are allowed to marry in China as long as both parties are aware of the medical situation and know how to prevent the spread of the disease.

A HIV test was included as part of the pre-marital medical examination in China for the first time this August. However, it is not compulsory and up to the couples concerned whether or not they have the AIDS test.

Studies show that if couples are highly motivated, use condoms and engage in safe sexual practices, there is probably little risk of HIV transmission. There is also a 90 percent possibility for them to have a healthy baby by medically assisted means.

One netizen optimistically pointed out that marriage has a lot in its favour, not least that it is good to have someone to share one's burdens, both spiritually and economically.

(China Daily November 25, 2002)