尊敬的周铁农副主席，尊敬的各位来宾，

　　艾滋病是个世界性的危机。尽管最近在治疗方面取得了一些成绩，仍然需要全球共同的努力，采取紧急应对行动。近几年艾滋病的感染率在中国快速上升，应对艾滋病的挑战尤为严峻。目前，中国有84万人感染了艾滋病，他们当中只有少数人能获得治疗和关爱。很多面对严重的歧视。如果我们现在不采取行动，到2010年，感染者人数会上升到1000万。

　　尽管挑战巨大，可喜的是，中国在应对方面做了获得努力。前不久，在第58次联大高级别会议上，卫生部常务副部长高强在应对艾滋病问题上作出了五项承诺，包括完善法律法规、对低收入的艾滋病患者免费提供治疗药物、保护他们的合法权益。

　　现在我讲话的这个时刻，国务院高级领导正准备去地坛医院参观，与感染者见面。今天下午，联合国还要和卫生部共同发布《中国艾滋病防治评估报告》。这份报告是联合国和中国政府方面一年半以来共同合作的结晶。报告全面地回顾了这些特别的危险、过去的努力、和经验教训。更重要的是，报告对今后的行动提出了指导性建议。我们联合国系统期待着将这些建议化为实际的行动。这两项活动只是这周末各地旨在提高艾滋病认识和反歧视的众多活动中的一部分。

　　尽管取得了这些成绩，我们不能满于现状。艾滋病的广泛流传激励我们投入更大的力量应对它。在这紧要关头，联合国驻华系统很荣幸能与中国政府和人民站在一起，与艾滋病作斗争。我们尤为欣慰和鼓舞的是，中国的领导层和中国的各种组织已做好准备投入到这样一场人民运动中来，战胜这最严重的危机。

　　下面，我想强调这次运动的一些要点：

　　1. 消除歧视。我们今天在座的每一位都应该承诺帮助感染者不仅活得更长，而且要过上正常的生活。这要求我们打破学校、工作场所及环境中的无知和歧视的态度。

　　2. 将这个信息带到省级和县级去。中国是个幅员辽阔的国家。我们要深入到上百万的乡村去。过去，中国克服了极大的困难，成功地动员了广大人民的参与。今天，我们也处于这样一个阶段。联合国驻华系统也准备尽自己应尽的力量提供帮助。

　　3. 在我们已知的事情上不断提高。从全球来看，联合国认为艾滋病是个可以治愈的疾病。世界上许多国家都在尽力解决这一问题。成绩是可能的。联合国的优势在于它能帮助获得这样的经验。在中国已经有了很多有益的尝试，例如，广西吸毒者中间的安全针具交换，针对海南性工作者的安全套推广，铁路车站进行的艾滋病认识的宣传。正如邓小平所说的，我们要摸着石头过河。

　　4. 针对高危人群，如吸毒者、性工作者和其他人群。但不应该局限在这些群体。虽然中国是个低流行国家，但我们必须认识到艾滋病已经在广泛的不同性别的人群之间传播。

　　5. 治疗。药品价格减低和功效方面的成功说明，我们应该保证治疗成为任何艾滋病应对策略的一部分。

　　正如联合国秘书长科菲•安南在他的讲话中所说：“我们必须继续公开地谈论艾滋病。羞怯和回避不会带来任何成绩。我们应该保证用希望和支持代替歧视与恐惧。我们每一个人都能创造这样的希望，提供这样的支持。”

　　谢谢大家今天来参加世界艾滋病日的的活动，谢谢大家与我们共同努力，与艾滋病作斗争。

　　附英文原文：

Speech at World AIDS Day, 1 December 2003

Beijing, China

By Mr. Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator in China and UNDP Resident Representative

　　Honorable Zhou Tienong, Vice Chairman, CCPCC,

　　Distinguished guests,

　　Ladies and gentlemen,

　　HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that despite recent advances in treatment and understanding requires even more than before, urgent action on an unprecedented scale.   For China, as one of the countries experiencing rapid growth of HIV infections, the challenge of combating the epidemic is particularly daunting.  China now has an estimated 840,000 people living with HIV/Aids. Few of them have access to treatment and proper care.  Most experience discrimination and stigma. By 2010, if we do not act now, the number of those infected by HIV/Aids could go as high as 10 million.

　　Despite these challenges-and this is the good news- China has made strides in its response.   Recently at a high-level panel of the 58^th session of the UN General Assembly, Executive Vice-Minister of Health Gao Qiang outlined China’s five commitments of its response to HIV/AIDS, including improving law and regulations, providing free treatment and medicines to low-income HIV/AIDS patients and protecting their legitimate rights

　　Today, as I speak, senior Chinese leaders are visiting Ditan hospital and meeting with people living with HIV/AIDS.  Today this afternoon, the UN is launching jointly with the Ministry of Health the Joint Assessment Report on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in China.   The Report is a culmination of a year and a half of close dialogue on HIV/Aids between the Chinese government and the UN system. Building on a comprehensive review of past efforts and lessons learned, it puts forward recommendations for the future. These two events are part of many activities during this week all over China that are trying to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS and fighting stigma and discrimination.

　　But, despite this recent progress, we cannot afford to be complacent.   The unstopped march of the epidemic requires us to redouble our collective efforts.

　　The United Nations system in China is privileged to be here with China and with the Chinese people at this critical time in combating HIV/Aids. There is a strong partnership with the Government of China in these matters. We are particularly pleased and encouraged that China’s leadership and institutions are gearing up for what can only be described as a people’s campaign to deal with and overcome this most serious crisis.

　　Let me highlight some necessary aspects of this campaign:

1.    Eliminating discrimination and stigma. All of us here have to commit ourselves to help people with HIV/Aids not only live longer but also fundamentally live normal lives. This requires breaking the barriers of ignorance and attitudes in schools, in the work place and at play.

2.    Taking the message to the provinces and township levels. China is large. We have a challenge to reach the million villages and towns of China. As in the past, China has overcome great obstacles through its enormous ability to mobilize vast numbers of people. We are at that stage again, and the UN system in China, in its modest way is prepared to help.

3.    Building on what we know. Globally, the UN takes the position that HIV/Aids is a problem that has a solution. Many countries around the globe are grappling with the same issues. Progress is possible. The UN’s strength lies in helping access such experience. In China too there are very useful pilot experiences such as safe needle exchange among drug users in Guangxi, on marketing of condoms among sex workers in Hainan and promoting HIV/Aids awareness in railway stations. In the spirit of Chairman Deng Xiao Ping, we will cross the stream using these experiences  as our stepping stones.

4.    Focusing on high risk groups: on drug users, on sex workers and others. But, also going beyond. Though China remains a low prevalence country, we also have to recognize that already we are seeing transmission of the disease in the broader heterosexual population.

5.    On treatment. The breakthroughs in efficacy and cost of drugs means that we can and should ensure that treatment is an essential part of any HIV/Aids response strategy.

　　And, importantly, as Kofi Annan said in his message:  We must continue to speak up openly about AIDS.  No progress will be achieved by being timid.  We need to ensure that we replace widespread stigma and fear with hope and support. Each and every one of us can create such hope and provide such support.

　　Thank you for being here with us on World AIDS Day and thank you for joining us in the campaign to combat HIV/AIDS in China and the world.