The US-based Clinton Foundation will offer northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region technical and financial support over the next three years in the fight against AIDS, local authorities said Friday.

The Clinton Foundation, set up by former US President Bill Clinton, will provide about 7.2 million yuan (US$900,000) from now to July 2009, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on HIV/AIDS prevention cooperation signed this week between the Foundation and the Xinjiang Health Department.

The Foundation will also offer technical training to help upgrade the professional skills of Xinjiang medical workers in treating and curing AIDS patients, sources with the AIDS Prevention Office of the Xinjiang Health Department said.

Xinjiang is one of the areas in China most affected by AIDS.

In 1995, a first case of AIDS was found in Xinjiang, and by Dec. 15 last year, it had reported 11,303 HIV carriers - ranking fourth in the nation.

According to the official website of the Xinjiang Health Department, 83 people have died from the disease.

In April 2004, the Clinton Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Health Ministry, promising to provide China with technical assistance in AIDS care and treatment.

In addition to Xinjiang, the Clinton Foundation is cooperating with southwest China's Yunnan Province to prevent AIDS.

The three-year cooperative programs with Yunnan were launched on June 20 last year and aim to deliver high-quality care and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients in areas like Dali, Gejiu, Kaiyuan and Lincang.

It is estimated that currently China has about 650,000 HIV/AIDS cases, including 75,000 AIDS patients, according to the 2005 Update on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Response in China issued by the Ministry of Health earlier this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2006)