Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spent the Chinese Lunar New Year eve by visiting AIDS patients in villages in Shangcai County of Henan Province, which was worst hit by the deadly epidemic.

Braving the chilly winds and treading on snow-covered muddy roads, Wen came to a rural clinic in the Nandawu Village of LugangTown Tuesday morning. He asked the medical workers about how the AIDS patients are treated and encouraged the patients to be self-confident and follow doctors' advice.

Tears in eyes, AIDS sufferer Lei Xinlin said that he had gained 20 kilograms of weight after the successful medical treatment the government provided for free.

Wenlou Village in Shangcai County is one of the villages with the biggest number of AIDS patients because many poverty-stricken villagers used to resort to selling their blood for a living and were unfortunately infected by the fatal disease.

Last year, it was listed among 38 villages where the Henan provincial government stationed special working teams to help with AIDS treatment and economic development.

Today, all the patients in Wenlou Village enjoy free treatment, all households have tap water supply, a brand new primary school has been built for the children, and roads are paved to link neighboring villages and towns.

"My husband and I can work again now after effective treatments," AIDS sufferer Nie Zhan told the premier at his meeting with AIDS patients in the village. "We had a net income of more than 10,000 yuan last year by raising dozens of pigs."

"You are all AIDS victims," Wen told villagers. "You suffer the most, bear the greatest difficulties and feel most lonely, but the Party and government care about you. I believe you will exhibit your strong confidence in the fight against the disease."

Wen had photographs taken with the AIDS patients and shook hands with each of them before he left the village.

In the afternoon, Wen visited two other villages struck by the disease. He called on two old villagers who both live with their grandchildren after their sons and daughters-in-law died of AIDS. The premier asked the local officials accompanying him to do more to help villagers like the old people.

Wen had his Spring Festival eve dinner at "Sunny Homestead," a home for both elders and orphans who lost families to AIDS. Jiaozi (dumplings), a traditional food, was served at the Chinese people's most important family reunion dinner.

Before the dinner, Wen inspected carefully the bedrooms, classrooms and reading room of the orphans, who entertained him with a performance. The premier also called on the old people there.

"AIDS has cost the elderly their sons and daughters, deprived the children of their parents. With the help of the Party and government, these people have a new home here at this Sunny Homestead," Wen said. "In our country, all citizens should care each other and share the benefit of our reform and modernization drive."

Wen also had a meeting with local officials and medical workers in the evening. He stressed that AIDS prevention and control concerns the future of the nation, and all localities and departments concerned must work hard to prevent and control the disease.

"Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, with the participation of the whole society, we are sure to curb the spread of AIDS," Wen said at the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2005)