China will have beautiful girls from more than 50 countries in July and August to spread knowledge of AIDS prevention and control, according to sponsors of "China International 'Red Ribbon' is Acting" Thursday.
  
The girls, participants of a contest called "Miss Bikini of the Universe", will travel to eight Chinese cities from July 11 to Aug.1, where they will bring more awareness of AIDS prevention and control to local people and advocate a healthy life through a series of activities, according to Zeng Yi, president of the Chinese Foundation for Prevention of Std and AIDS.
  
It is estimated that China will have had 10 million HIV carriers by 2010. The most urgent work of curbing AIDS is to make people aware of the situation, said Zeng.
  
The red ribbon activities include a beach cultural festival, a sports meet, a kite meet, a sedan exhibition and entertainment parties.
  
At the end of 1980s, a number of artists in the United States used red ribbons to mourn their fellow people died of AIDS. By now, red ribbon has gradually become an international symbol to appeal human beings to pay attention to AIDS prevention and to care and love AIDS carriers.
  
The contest is being held in China and more than 50 countries in five continents, and the final contest will be held in Beihai City of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China from July 28 to 31, according to one of the organizers called Miss Model of The World Organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2005)