The United States will contribute US$35 million over the next three years in a joint effort with China to combat HIV/AIDS.

US Global AIDS Coordinator Randall Tobias, who made the announcement at a press conference in Beijing yesterday, said a close partnership between China and the United States was vital for tackling the disease.

"I am very, very impressed by the commitment made by the senior leadership of China," Tobias said. "My visit here on behalf of the president of United States, President Bush, is to better understand issues in China regarding HIV/AIDS."

According to the Ministry of Health, co-operation between China and the US on HIV/AIDS prevention and control began in 2002. Apart from the two governments, the partnership now involves institutions, non-government organizations and even businesses, the ministry said.

Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is one of the beneficiaries of the collaboration.

Since last June, the US Global AIDS Program has helped set up 15 of the province's 21 HIV surveillance sites at disease control and prevention centers.

Between June and November last year, 60 people tested positive for HIV, accounting for one-third of such cases detected in the province since the early 1990s.

"The program has really helped us," said Wu Yuhua, a top researcher with the provincial disease control and prevention department.

"Assistance ranges from money grants to professional personnel, and, most importantly, it is based on our actual needs."

Wu said that after a year of effort, local authorities have realized the urgent need to bring the pandemic under control. In the coming year, the program will help provide HIV/AIDS training for local disease control departments.

But the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign still has a long way to go.

According to the Heilongjiang disease control and prevention department, HIV/AIDS is now spreading from high-risk groups, such as blood sellers, prostitutes and homosexuals, to those in lower-risk groups - mainly through sexual transmission.

"The campaign against this monstrous disease started late in our province," said Wu. "We are still short of funds, facilities and professionals with proper knowledge about HIV/AIDS, despite assistance from the central government and foreign organizations in recent years."

The Chinese government recently pledged 3.9 billion yuan (US$474 million) to help local governments fight AIDS and HIV.

But as well as material support, a major change is needed in local authorities' thinking, said Wu.

(China Daily June 8, 2005)