2024 Technical Exchange Workshop of South-South Cooperation on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Successfully Held

The 2024 Technical Exchange Workshop of South-South Cooperation on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, organized by the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention (NCAIDS),  Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), was successfully held in Beijing and Kunming in September 2024. The event brought together over 40 management and technical personnel specializing in HIV/AIDS prevention and control from 16 countries, the African Union, and the United Nations system, with partial support from the UNAIDS China Office.

 

Shi Ying, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology, Education, and International Cooperation at the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration; Yan Jun, Deputy Director of China CDC; Fu Jun, Deputy Division Director of the Department of Communicable Disease Control; Dr. Eramus morah, UNAIDS China Office Director; and Liu Zhongfu, Director of NCAIDS, attended the opening ceremony. In their remarks, Deputy Director-General Shi, Deputy Director Yan, and Dr. Morah emphasized China’s commitment to international cooperation in the field of disease control, analyzed the current status of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in China, recognized the achievements in prevention and control, and provided insights on future initiatives in line with the theme of the event, “High-Quality HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control: Reducing New Infections.”

 

Wang Xiaoqi, Director of the International Cooperation Office at China CDC, and Qi Xiaopeng, Director of the Global Public Health Center at China CDC, gave presentations on China CDC’s international partnerships and global public health practices. Shan Duo, Deputy Director of Integration and Policy Division at NCAIDS, provided an update on the progress of HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts in China.

 

In the afternoon, the delegates visited the NCAIDS. They attended three thematic presentations: an overview of the history and development of China’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Information System, insights into the role of methadone maintenance therapy in HIV prevention, and a discussion on global HIV/AIDS prevention progress with a focus on regional priorities. The delegates also toured the National HIV Reference Laboratory, where they engaged in on-site discussions and exchanges.

 

On September 4–5, international delegates exchanged insights with Chinese experts in the HIV/AIDS field. Through presentations and country reports, they shared updates on HIV prevention efforts, explored the potential application of new technologies, and discussed strategies and technical solutions needed for developing countries to achieve their HIV/AIDS prevention goals.

 

From September 8–11, some delegates traveled to Kunming, Yunnan Province, for further exchanges. At the Yunnan CDC, they reviewed Yunnan Province’s progress in HIV prevention, antiretroviral therapy, and interventions targeting injection drug users, and toured a digital exhibition hall and the Institute for AIDS and STD Prevention Laboratory. At the Chunyu Tongxin Community Service Center, delegates observed how community-based organizations contribute to HIV prevention efforts. At the First Methadone Maintenance Treatment clinic set up by the Institute of Drug Dependence Prevention and Control, delegates examined the workflow and effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment through reports, site tours, and discussions. Finally, at the Third People’s Hospital of Kunming, delegates were briefed by the Kunming CDC and the hospital on local HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives and toured facilities dedicated to HIV diagnosis and treatment. The delegates noted that Yunnan’s achievements in HIV prevention left a positive and lasting impression.

 

Since 2017, NCAIDS has organized the Technical Exchange Workshop of South-South Cooperation on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control annually, marking its eighth consecutive session this year. This program has fostered in-depth exchanges, mutual learning, and active cooperation among participating countries in the field of HIV prevention, contributing to global efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.