Former US President Bill Clinton arrived in Beijing on Wednesday night after a tour of Asia's tsunami-hit regions and signed a cooperation agreement on HIV/AIDS treatment with the Ministry of Health.

Clinton, who has been deeply involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control since his presidency, promised to donate medicines for Chinese children living with HIV.

"What impressed me most is how quickly and how much you've done in preventing HIV/AIDS," he told Executive Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang after the signing ceremony.

The government estimates that there are at least 840,000 Chinese with HIV, of whom around 80,000 are thought to have AIDS.

In April 2004, the Clinton Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with the health ministry, promising to provide technical assistance in HIV/AIDS care and treatment.

Clinton said he was encouraged by the smooth cooperation between the foundation and China in helping to prevent the spread of HIV, and that it would continue to provide support.

Gao said the government remains firm in fighting the spread of the virus and will continue to strengthen its policies and measures for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, including free treatment for those with financial difficulties.

Gao told Clinton that the current challenges for China lie in a weak monitoring network, lack of new medication and shortage of experienced doctors.

"We hope we can improve technical and information exchange with the Clinton Foundation and other international organizations to solve these problems," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2005)