Chinese president shakes hands with AIDS patients

Chinese president shakes hands with AIDS patiens

Chinese President Hu Jintao shook hands with AIDS patients in a Beijing hospital Tuesday afternoon, encouraging them to "persist in medical treatment and enhance confidence for an early recovery."

Wearing a special red silk ribbon which symbolizes love and care for AIDS patients, Hu visited the Beijing You'an Hospital on the eve of the World AIDS Day that falls on Dec. 1.

Amidst his visit to two of the hospital's special wards, which presently houses 14 AIDS patients, smiling Hu reached out for handshakes with an AIDS patient inside and had a face-to-face talk with him.

This was the second time in a year that top Chinese leaders shook hands and had face-to-face exchanges with the AIDS patients. On the World AIDS Day last year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shook hands with AIDS patients in a Beijing hospital.

"Tomorrow is the World AIDS day. I and other officials come to see you," Hu told the patient after their handshaking, then asked in details about his treatment and family conditions.

"It is very unfortunate for you to contract the disease, but the Party, the government and the society will truly care about and help you," Hu said. "I hope you will enhance confidence and coordinate with doctors for an early recovery." Before he left, Hu shook hands again with the patient.

In another room, Hu wrote "Wish you recover at an early date!" on a piece of paper for another patient.

Informative sources said that Hu expressed the wish to personally visit AIDS patients shortly after his return from the Latin American tour last week.

Hu was accompanied by Wu Yi, Chinese vice-premier in charge of the AIDS control and prevention work, and Beijing municipal officials. During his stay, Hu also visited an exhibition on China's AIDS control and prevention.

As China's top leader, Hu has attached great importance to the country's AIDS prevention work.

Last week while attending the 12th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Santiago, Chile, Hu expressed his concern that the swift spread of AIDS had brought concussion that should not be underestimated for the economic and social development of the APEC members.

"China supports cooperation among APEC members in epidemics control and prevention, which will help APEC members improve their public health systems through information exchanges and technical cooperation," Hu addressed the meeting.

Since China reported its first AIDS patient in 1985, the AIDS epidemic has been spreading swiftly in some regions and specific human groups across the country. UN health officials warned this week that the disease is now spreading from high-risk groups to the general public.

According to official statistics from China's Health Ministry, China had an estimated 840,000 HIV/AIDS cases in 2003.

Facing the grave situation of AIDS control and prevention, the Chinese central government has established a national AIDS control and prevention work committee and has taken a series of measures over the past year to curb the AIDS spread.