panda? in Zhenjiang, Province Wednesday. Jiangsu University launched a campaign to mark World AIDS Day on December 1. Photo: CFP?>

The number of new HIV/AIDS cases in China has risen by about 13 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday, two days after Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with AIDS activists and vowed to give grass-roots organizations greater support in fighting the disease.

The ministry said that 34,157 new cases of AIDS were reported in China in the first 10 months this year, up by 12.7 percent from the same period last year.

Sexual transmission has become the primary vector, accounting for about 85 percent of new cases. Cases from men having sex with men registered a sharp increase, rising from 15 to 21 percent of all sexually transmitted cases, said the MOH.

According to a report by the China News Service on Wednesday, Vice Premier Li held a meeting on Monday at the MOH with 13 AIDS patients and representatives from nongovernmental organizations across the country, saying the government would let them play a more active role in battling the disease.

"You have a greater understanding of what sufferers want ... the government will continue to offer support and pay even greater attention to and listen more closely to the voices of civil society groups and you will be given greater space to play your role," Li was quoted as saying.

A CCTV report also showed pictures of Li shaking hands with sufferers, in a country where discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is rampant, even in the health-care community.

Li made a phone call to the Ministry of Health last week after reading media reports about an AIDS patient being repeatedly refused treatment for lung cancer, urging the health authorities to make sure AIDS patients enjoy equal access to medical services.

Li also attended a meeting Monday with ministers and health officials from across the country to discuss plans to curb the rising epidemic.

He said social security systems must be established in both urban and rural areas that can give better support to HIV/AIDS patients and gradually reduce public discrimination against sufferers.

Li also asked the State Council and the Ministry of Finance to start working on a program to introduce governmental and charity funds to promote NGO activities in a bid to better serve HIV/AIDS groups.

In the meantime, he warned that better regulations should be designed in order to prevent anyone from using the allocated funds for other purposes.

Li worked in Henan Province from 1998 to 2004, one of the worst AIDS- hit areas in China.

According to the MOH's report on Wednesday, 17,740 AIDS-related deaths were reported in the country from January to October, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.6 percent. As those living with HIV often develop AIDS over time, AIDS-related deaths are on the rise, the report said. 

HIV rates have risen among people aged 15 to 24 and those over 50.  From January to October, 16,131 new cases of HIV infections among citizens over 50 were reported, marking a year-on-year increase of 20.2 percent.

There were also 9,514 new cases of HIV reported among young people aged 15 to 24, up 12.8 percent year on year, according to figures from the MOH.

According to China's AIDS Action Plan for the 12th Five-Year Program period (2011-2015) published by the State Council, or China's Cabinet, in February, the country aims to decrease the number of AIDS fatalities by 30 percent by 2015, and new cases by 25 percent, as compared to 2010.

Since the end of 2003, the Chinese government has carried out the policy "four frees, one care" for people living with HIV/AIDS.

This includes free blood tests for those with HIV, free education for orphans of AIDS patients, free consultation and screening tests, and free antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women.

Agencies contributed to this story