BEIJING

Capital sees big drop in new HIV/AIDS cases

Beijing saw a significant drop in new HIV/AIDS infections in the first 10 months of the year, the municipal health authorities said on Sunday. From January to October, 1,408 new HIV/AIDS cases were reported, down 47 percent year-on-year, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission said. The capital reported 34,289 HIV/AIDS cases from 1985 to October this year, it said. Sexual transmission accounted for 93 percent of the infections. Beijing has made antiviral therapy more accessible to AIDS patients at more medical institutions and has stepped up HIV testing for high-risk groups to prevent and control new cases, the commission said.

GANSU

Last eight counties shake off poverty

Gansu province has lifted all 75 impoverished counties out of poverty, the provincial government announced on Saturday. The last eight poverty-stricken counties have been removed from the poverty list. In its bid to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, China plans to eradicate absolute poverty by the end of this year. Over the past 10 days, governments of Yunnan, Sichuan and Gansu provinces, as well as the Xinjiang Uygur, Ningxia Hui and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous regions have announced that all remaining impoverished counties in their respective areas have been taken off that list.

Xinhua - China Daily