The China AIDS Network Information Support Project website china.hivaidsinfo.net funded by the Australian Government, was jointly developed by the non-government China AIDS Network based in the Beijing Union Medical College, and Infoxchange Australia, a non-profit Australian organizations.

The website was divided into public and members areas, containing HIV/AIDS information and resources widely used and needed by practitioners, experts, researchers and educators, the developers said at Thursday's launch ceremony.

The project planned to include news and events, on-line publications, research projects and useful links to other websites and organizations, they said.

Zhang Konglai, a professor with the Beijing Union Medical College, said the website offered a sound platform for experts from home and abroad to exchange information and work together.

The website would be further improved to provide more prevention and care information for HIV carriers, AIDS patients and healthy people as well, Zhang said, noting the currently English-only website would carry a Chinese version at an early date.

Australian Charge d'Affairs Lydia Morton said the website could prevent duplication of resources by centralizing and sharing information, and would "greatly facilitate collaboration between Chinese and Australian counterparts in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

Statistics from China's Ministry of Health show the nation has 1 million HIV carriers at present, including 80,000 to 100,000 AIDS patients, and about 100,000 people have died from AIDS to date.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2003)