According to the Chinese Ministry of Health, the country has about 700,000 HIV/AIDS virus carriers and patients, of which about 440,000 may not be aware that they have been infected with the disease.

Wang Weizhen, deputy director of the AIDS Prevention Division of the MoH, said that these people are unaware of being infected mainly because they have not had a checkup for fear of discrimination.

A latest survey shows that there is still strong stigma against HIV/AIDS patients in China. The survey says that up to 65% of those surveyed are unwilling to satay in the same room as people infected with HIV/AIDS.

Wang indicated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is slowing down in China, but sex has become the main means of transmission and single male to male sexual transmission is on the rise. In addition, Wang said there is a great geographical difference in the incidence of the disease. Up to 86.3% of all counties and cities have reported HIV/AIDS epidemic in the first nine months of the year and the six provinces that account for 80% of the nation's HIV/AIDS patients are Yunnan, Henan, Guangxi, Xinjiang, Guangdong, and Sichuan.

Wang said that the Chinese government would increase education about HIV/AIDS in key areas such as the countryside and with key groups such as migrant workers and the youth. In addition, HIV/AIDs prevention courses will be included into the training programs for government leaders.

It is reported that all Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipal government as well as major counties have set up HIV/AIDS prevention centers.

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