China's vice health minister Wang Longde said Thursday in Suzhou that China is to issue regulations on AIDS prevention and control at the end of 2005.

The regulations have been drafted by the Ministry of Health, Wang said at an international symposium on official development assistance (ODA) for population and development.

"The Ministry is lending ears to all walks of life including the HIV infected, looking for room to improve the regulations," Wang said.

He said the regulations aim to protect the legal rights of the HIV infected and AIDS patient. Any irresponsible government official who does little to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS will be punished according to the regulations, he added.

The Chinese government will also report new figures reflecting the current situation of HIV/AIDS in China around December 1, World AIDS Day.

He said China is making efforts to enact laws to eliminate discrimination against patients of all infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS.

By the end of 2006, Chinese officials above county-levels must attend courses on AIDS prevention and control so as to guide the public in combating AIDS-related discrimination.

Source: Xinhua