A pure natural anti-AIDS Chinese medicine jointly developed by China and Thailand is expected to obtain permission from the Thai Ministry of Public Health to enter market in 2003.

The medicine has passed three-stage clinical tests by the Thai Ministry of Public Health. The Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the researcher on the Chinese side, is also applying to China's drug administration for permission, a Chinese health ministry official said in Beijing Friday.

Shen Zhixiang, a senior official with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said at the sixth meeting on health cooperation between China and Thailand that the clinical tests showed that the preparation could effectively kill the HIV virus, increase the vitality of immunocyte and improve the human body's immune system, with no toxic or side effects.

Gao Qiang, executive vice minister of health, congratulated searchers of the two sides and said he hoped they could continue to explore the advantages of Chinese medicine and present the medicine to the AIDS patients of China and Thailand as well as the world as soon as possible.

Gao said China and Thailand have carried out fruitful cooperation in health and curing research, covering the areas of cancer, herbal medicine and mental health.

The health officials from China and Thailand agreed at the meeting to cooperate in the future in the fight against AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and on unifying standards for food and drug imports.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2003)