Thursday, April 22, 2004, marked an unusual day in the life of 36-year-old Chen Yan, an HIV carrier in northeast China's Jilin Province.

On this day, Chen married Ding Guifang, 39, who is also an HIV carrier, and they became the first registered HIV carrier couple in this northeastern province.

With festive firecrackers, passionate applause and blessings from relatives and friends, the wedding ceremony for Chen and Ding was no different with any other ceremony in terms of the rituals.

But, Chen said, the wedding ceremony was a dream of the couple that had come true.

About 200 people were present at the wedding ceremony, including their relatives and representatives from the health and disease control centers of the provincial, city and county levels and county government of Yongji, their hometown.

"I never thought there would be so many people who cared for me," Chen said.

Chen and his former wife were diagnosed as HIV positive in June of 2000. A blood sale several years ago was blamed for his contracting of HIV.

The news about their contracting of HIV exploded in the Yangmugou Village in Kouqian Town of Yongji County. Nobody in the village, including Chen's parents had ever talked with them since then.

Chen and his then wife attended a fellowship party specially organized for HIV carriers by the Jilin Provincial Disease Control Center in 2002. They learned more about the HIV and bravely announced their disease to the public. They called on all HIV carriers to be brave, independent and help each other.

After learning that most of the HIV carriers are in financial difficulties, Chen and his wife set up a "Help-self and Help-each-other" center at their home on Nov. 24, 2002.

By raising several hundred turkeys, Chen earned enough to support his own family and help several other HIV carriers to shake off poverty.

Chen's first wife died of AIDS in June of 2003 and hoped Chen would continue the operation of the "Help-self and Help-each-other Center" and the efforts to help other HIV carriers.

Ding Guifang, the bride, suffered the same tragedy as Chen. Her husband also died of HIV/AIDS.

Ding came across Chen last year at a fellowship party and admired Chen's bravery to announce his disease publicly. The two decided to make the "Help-self and Help-each-other Center" better.

Chen and Ding never thought that their marriage could attract the attention of so many people, and when they talked about taking wedding photos, they thought it would be only be a dream that could never come true.

They thought there would be nobody who dared to take pictures of them since there are quite a number of people in China who worry about being infected with HIV just by a single contact with a HIV carrier.

The couple's wishes for wedding pictures were reported by a local daily newspaper. Many readers called to the newspaper authorities, expressing their willingness to help the couple.

Liu Zhenyang, 23, manager of the Zhenyang Celebrations Company based in Changchun, the provincial capital, took pictures of the couple for free.

"My father is a disabled person and received assistance from other people, and I do know how a person feels when he needs help," Liu said.

Liu's parents said, "Our son has done a good deed. We should not discriminate HIV/AIDS carriers."

There were a lot of things that Chen and Ding had not imagined: a local company paid for their feasts, a citizen bought a golden necklace and a pair of earrings for them and flowers sellers presented them with free bouquets.

Chen's parents, who had cut off contact with Chen since his illness, were present at Thursday wedding ceremony.

Gao Jianmin, a Japanese Chinese, flew back to China to attend the couple's wedding ceremony. "I am moved by their deeds and I just want to help arrange the weeding ceremony for them."

With the publicity of AIDS knowledge, more and more Chinese people are no longer afraid of the disease. Many government departments and localities have moved to help HIV/AIDS carriers.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's shaking hands and having face-to-face conversation with HIV/AIDS patients in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2003, the World's Aids Day, has been hailed a milestone in China.

Shaking hands and sitting with HIV/AIDS patients sent a significant signal to the society that HIV/AIDS victims need support and care. Wen told the whole nation with his behavior, "I'm willing to help them," said Ray Yip director of China-US AIDS Prevention and Care Project.

It marked a milestone in China's HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts and showed the government's strong commitment to the issue, Yip said.

The Health Ministry has announced recently to treat HIV/AIDS carriers, who face financial difficulties, for free. Last week that the ministry it would foot the bill for those who voluntarily receive HIV/AIDS tests and consultations, for the purpose of identifying the most possible positive individuals and thus controlling the spread of the disease.

Central China's Hubei Province and Henan provinces took measures to offer free AIDS medication to all HIV-carriers or sent officials to help improve AIDS control and treatment work in the most seriously affected areas.

Chen and Ding's weeding, which aroused the attention of many HIV/AIDS carriers and the people, was held at the right time. Chen said "I did not intend to show off, I just want to celebrate my unusual marriage."

Among those who extended congratulations, a woman surnamed Xia said she was surprised to see that so many people came to help the couple. "I feel the care from society," she said.

Liu Baogui, an official with the Jilin Provincial Disease Control Center, said the wedding ceremony reflected the respect for HIV/AIDS carriers from the general public. "In fact, many of the HIV/AIDS carriers still live a hard life and need more help," he said.

China reportedly has 840,000 HIV carriers, including 80,000 AIDS patients.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2004)