Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday shook hands and had a face-to-face conversation with three AIDS patients at a hospital in Beijing, as various activities were launched nationwide to mark the World AIDS Day.

It was the first time that a Chinese premier has visited AIDS patients.

Wen called on the governments at all levels to strengthen AIDS prevention and treatment, when paying a visit to Ditan Hospital, the most-advanced AIDS hospital in China, which has treated more than 600 AIDS patients.

Wearing a red ribbon shown care about the AIDS patients, the premier shook hands with three patients one by one, asking them about their treatment, family life and their kids' education.

"AIDS can be prevented and treated," Wen said, reminding the medical staff of providing better service for AIDS patients.

The AIDS epidemic has become a severe challenge to human existence and development, and prevention and treatment of AIDS has become a global issue on public health, he said.

In China, the number of AIDS patients has been increasing and the Chinese government attaches great importance to the prevention and treatment of AIDS, he said, noting the State Council has publicized agendas in this regard and taken effective measures to prevent the spread of AIDS, provide help and treatment for patients and oppose social discrimination.

Wen urged to the governments at all levels to strengthen epidemic supervision and provide free anti-AIDS treatment, free anonymous tests and free education for AIDS patients' orphans. He said China would take joint efforts with the international society in AIDS prevention and treatment.

China now has reportedly 840,000 HIV carriers, including 80,000 AIDS patients. The figure might rocket to ten million by 2010, predicted experts.

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