China’s strong commitment to battle HIV/ AIDS, both in terms of financial resources and political leadership has led to important progress, though challenges remain, told Director of UNAIDS Asia and the Pacific Steven Kraus in a written interview with People’s Daily Online on Sunday,

The following is the excerpt of the interview with Steven Kraus on this year’s World AIDS Day.

PD Online: How do you comment China's efforts in achieving the ten targets in global AIDS response?

Kraus: China’s strong commitment, both in terms of financial resources and political leadership has led to important progress in recent years. In terms of expanding access to treatment, China has made huge progress, with treatment coverage increasing almost tenfold between 2005 and 2013. China has created the world’s largest drug harm reduction programme, and has seen significant reductions in HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs. China has also shown important leadership by eliminating HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence in China and by committing to almost entirely fund its domestic response.

PD Online: What challenges China is facing to HIV/AIDS response?

Kraus: Despite the progress, challenges remain. There is a need to take action to address sexual transmission of HIV, particularly among key affected populations including men who have sex with men, amongst whom HIV prevalence continues to rise. This will require strong engagement of community based organisations which can access those most at risk with lifesaving prevention, treatment and testing services. Stigma and discrimination remain important challenges in China, and people living with HIV report facing discrimination in a variety of settings, including health care, education and employment settings.

Achieving further progress towards the ten targets will require greater support for, and engagement of communities, stronger prioritisation of China’s response towards those most at risk of HIV, combined with a systematic effort to eliminate stigma and discrimination in all settings.

• Alarm as HIV cases soar among men who have sex with men

• Asia and the Pacific needs more funds to fight AIDS

• HIV stigma, discrimination remain widespread in Asia-Pacific region

• More efforts needed by Asia-Pacific countries to create an AIDS-free generation

• Full text of interview with Steven Kraus, Director of UNAIDS Asia and the Pacific