Government and Policy

China to step up fight against infectious diseases

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-30 09:36

BEIJING - China pledged Tuesday to work with international organizations to step up the prevention and treatment of diseases.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Michel Kazatchkine,executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria in Beijing g,China,on June 29,2010.[Xinhua]

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang made the pledge in a meeting with Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, an international institution that invests money to save lives.

China is making active efforts to advance the reform of its health-care system, Li said.

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It is also increasing investments in local health care service systems to promote equitable access to basic health services, Li added.

Li highlighted the Chinese government's efforts to prevent and control major infectious diseases.

He said the country has fully implemented an AIDS prevention, treatment and care policy, guaranteeing the rights of HIV-infected persons.

Li thanked the Global Fund for its support to China.

The institution has granted programs in China US$ 1.8 billion.

China had donated US$ 16 million to the organization.

Kazatchkine expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's efforts to prevent and control AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He hopes China will play an active role in global health development.

The Global Fund has committed US$ 19.3 billion for programs in 144 countries to prevent and treat the three diseases and care for the diseases' sufferers.