Emiie Fox, the lecturer, spent two hour informing the young audience about the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDs, China's progress in the field, as well as the difficulties the anti-HIV/AIDs work is facing worldwide.

Dr. Fox, a national of Luxembourg who has taken part in research on the disease for many years, has been working in the UNAIDS' Beijing office since 1996.

Inequity is one of the main factors causing HIV/AIDs to spread around the world, the UNAIDS official told the students, adding that poor people are the most vulnerable to the disease.

The enduring and worsening poverty, lack of an efficient social security system, wars and social instability have further hampered the efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDs, he said.

Fox asked the young people to be fully aware of the severe threat to humanity posed by the disease, to learn more about it, and to actively participate in activities to prevent it from spreading.

Ms Mehr Khan, regional director of UNICEF's East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, stressed that the spreading of HIV/AIDs has no boundaries and warned that it is necessary to strengthen education in the disease among young people by all governments and non-government groups.

Bai Xue, a student of the college, told Xinhua that young people must not fear the disease and should take positive measures to prevent it while trying to help those who have been infected.

Wednesday's lecture is one of a series of activities of HIV/AIDs Week launched by the college. The organizer will also hold seminars, panels and contests on the issue.

The school, which specializes in training diplomats and foreign affairs experts, plans to employ young volunteers to comfort HIV carriers and AIDs patients.

(People's Daily 09/20/2001)