UNITED NATIONS - China on Tuesday called for strengthened international cooperation to better prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, which poses a serious threat to the safety of the human life.

The statement came as Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at an open debate of the UN Security Council on HIV/AIDS.

"It is important to strengthen the international cooperation and to implement in an earnest manner the declarations and resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council," Li said.

In 2001, the General Assembly convened a special session on HIV/ AIDS and adopted the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. On Wednesday, the General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS and is expected to adopt an outcome document.

Since 2000, the relevant discussions at the Security Council also helped enhance the profile of the HIV/AIDS issue on the international agenda, Li noted.

"Now, it is the time for the international community to translate commitments into concrete actions and make more efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS," he said.

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"HIV/AIDS poses a serious threat to the safety of the human life," Li said.

"In the recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of the international community, there is a great progress in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS," he said. "However, at the same time, there are still 60 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS infected, the situation is especially serious in the sub-Sahara Africa."

"In some conflict and post-conflict countries, poverty, lack of medical facilities and massive population displacement are all the factors that are likely to worsen the spread of HIV/AIDS, and will in turn affect the economic development and social stability of the countries concerned," Li said.

Meanwhile, Li also called on the developed countries to honor their commitments and offer necessary financial and technical assistance to the developing countries.

"HIV/AIDS medicine and treatment are costly, and the developing countries are facing serious difficulties in finance and technology in the prevention and treatment of such an epidemic," he said. "Therefore, the developed countries must extend a helping hand to the developing nations."

"International organizations and funds, including the United Nations, must strengthen their coordination and help the developing countries, particularly those in the sub-Sahara Africa, in their fight against HIV/AIDS," he said.

Li said that it is also important to give more attention to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the conflict and post- conflict countries, and more efforts should be made to strengthen the efforts of the UN peacekeeping operations in the fight against HIV/AIDS.