The campaign was launched by the Health Education Institute of China Diseases Prevention and Control Center and the Sexually-Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Prevention and Control Center, the newspaper said.

With AIDS spreading rapidly in China, the posters are required to feature themes related to prevention of the deadly disease, such as fighting against bias toward HIV carriers and AIDS patients and caring for people suffering from AIDS.

There are no restrictions on form and prizes will be given for outstanding posters and organizers, the paper said.

A website was also launched at www.cnhei.com to accept competing posters for the campaign, which will close on October 15.

All the selected picture posters will be submitted to the State AIDS Resourcing Center.

There were 850,000 registered HIV-positive people in China at the end of last year. The number increased to 1 million in the first half of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2002)