Peng leads foreign visitors to activity promoting awareness of HIV, campus prevention efforts

China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, called for a redoubling of international efforts against HIV/AIDS on Monday in Hangzhou, the host city of the G20 Leaders Summit.

As the World Health Organization's goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV, Peng led a group of officials' spouses to Zhejiang University for an anti-AIDS activity.

"I have provided support and have been engaged in activities to popularize the prevention of AIDS in colleges," Peng said. "Such activities have been held at many Chinese universities and have borne great fruit so far."

Spouses from Argentina, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Turkey, Singapore and Thailand attended the activity with Peng. They watched a video about fighting AIDS and listened to a speech about how the campus is working to prevent the disease.

University students shared their understanding about prevention and expressed their determination to stop AIDS. Two teenagers affected by AIDS told their stories and shared their hopes for the future.

The visiting women put red ribbons - the HIV/AIDS awareness symbol - on a signature board to signify they were "hand-in-hand for improving AIDS prevention and control".

Several athletes who participated in Rio Olympic Games, including swimmers Sun Yang and Fu Yuanhui, also attended the activity and volunteered to fight AIDS.

Peng's engagement in anti-AIDS efforts dates to 10 years ago, when she helped children affected by HIV/AIDS and promoted prevention messages.

On July 29, when a summer camp was launched at the Forbidden City in Beijing, Peng called for more social support for affected children.

She said during the Love in the Sunshine China-Africa Children Summer Camp: "Along with healthy children, those suffering or affected by AIDS are the world's future; and regardless of their HIV status, nationality or color, they deserve care, support and a happy childhood."

In December, Peng participated in another anti-AIDS advocacy event in Johannesburg, South Africa.

On Monday, she invited wives of leaders participating in the G20 Summit in Hangzhou to visit the China Academy of Art to learn about Chinese culture through handwriting, silk and the academy's history.

All the guests tried Chinese calligraphy during the visit and showed interest in the silk clothing on display.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/06/2016 page5)