In an agreement signed on Monday with China's Ministry of Finance, the German government promised to donate 7 million euros to be used for AIDS prevention and treatment in China's less-developed western region, a ministry spokesman said.

Germany will also make an additional 42.4 million euros in government loans available to support the construction of hospitals and disease control centers in western China.

The finance ministry spokesman said cooperation with other countries has enhanced China's capability to fight AIDS. China has received funds and advanced medical technologies and techniques from abroad.

The German government has so far either donated or loaned a total of 176.7 million euros for China's medical and health care, according to the spokesman.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2004)