November has been set as "Red Ribbon Month" by the Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS attached to the Ministry of Health.

According to Zeng Yi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chairman of the foundation, the AIDS-related educational month was to commemorate Dec. 1, the 15th World AIDS Day.

Within the month, a series of activities concerning AIDS prevention and control will be carried out, according to Zeng. The foundation will publicize AIDS-related knowledge through all media, and will hold relevant lectures in some universities in Beijing. It will also provide publicity pamphlets and free condoms to the public.

Zeng said that the "Red Ribbon Month" was a part of the foundation's "121 Joint Action Plan" for AIDS prevention and control publicity, which was launched this March with the theme of "live and let live".

"The Chinese government has already made remarkable achievements in AIDS prevention and control," Zeng said. "However, the work requires sufficient funds, and it is not possible for the government to solely fund the work." He hoped that the society as a whole would contribute to AIDS prevention and control, especially enterprises.

Zeng said that contributing to AIDS prevention and control was the best way for enterprises to pay back society. He also pointed out that, at the same time, it helped boost enterprises' reputation and thus would be beneficial to their development.

The "Red Ribbon Month" will end on Dec. 1, when the foundation will hold an awarding ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in praise of enterprises and individuals who have contributed to the undertaking.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2003)