China

Key Results in 2022-2023

National Action Plan for EMTCT 2025 and subnational EMTCT validation exercise launched.
Dolutegravir-based regimen added as second-line treatment in government’s free antiretroviral treatment programme benefiting over one million people living with HIV.
Increased international cooperation to expand access to HIV-related medicines and health commodities and first agreement for donation of 500 000 HIV testing kits to support testing among key populations in Iran.

Joint Programme Results

As a result of sustained advocacy by the Joint Programme, the Government included dolutegravir as second-line treatment regimen in the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment programme starting from 2023 benefitting more than one million people living with HIV in China. Additionally, the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, for the first time in 2022, disclosed information on AIDS-related deaths with strategic support by the Joint Programme, including training on Spectrum and Estimation and Projection Package (EEP), development of simple algorithm for AIDS-related death classification and localization of software models (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

China made significant progress towards the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus through the launch of the National Action Plan for EMTCT 2025, the establishment of a national EMTCT experts committee and the implementation of a subnational EMTCT validation exercise (UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Evidence on literacy of HIV prevention and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) among occupational school students was strengthened with data collected from 15 occupational schools in five provinces (UNESCO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, age-appropriate and scientific comprehensive CSE and youth-friendly healthcare services were integrated into the Reproductive Health Promotion Action Plan 2023-2025 in collaboration with the National Health Commission and Ministry of Education and China Family Planning Association (UNFPA).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

Community-led HIV response and programme monitoring was strengthened as shown by the establishment of extended network of community-led organizations as well as the fundraising steering committee for communities. These committees are composed of representatives from National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Gates Foundation, Chinese Association for STD and AIDS Control and Prevention (CASAPC), China AIDS Fund for NGOs (CAFNGO) and the United Nations (UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

China lowered the legal age for gender reassignment surgery from 20 to 18 years and the National Health Commission improved the surgical procedures for gender reassignment (UNDP). In 2022, Equal Eyes, an online news digest of updated LGBTI stories around the globe in Chinese published 22 issues on social media platforms, gaining more than 500 000 views to become a leading source of information among the LGBTQI+ community in China (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

In July 2023, representatives of government, trade unions, employers, and networks of people living with HIV and/or disabilities endorsed the Training Manual on Promoting Fair Employment, taking HIV as an example (ILO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, Women’s Network Against AIDS in China raised US$ 30 000 for training of people living with HIV on fair employment, digital skills as well as prevention and management of gender-based and domestic violence, thanks to the support from the Joint Programme (UN Women, ILO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

China accelerated its contribution to national and global efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through south-south cooperations, increased access to HIV-related medicines and health commodities made in China, endorsement of production of medicines and health commodities in Africa and resource mobilization. For instance, the China International Development Cooperation Agency donated 500 000 HIV testing kits to support testing among key populations in Iran (UNAIDS Secretariat). Additionally, 28 experts from 10 African and Asian countries engaged in discussion to share experience and foster further collaborations in the HIV response, during the annual South-South cooperation workshops (UNAIDS Secretariat).