The Chinese government and civil society have joined hands for the first time in responding to HIV/AIDS, as the high-profile China Red Ribbon Beijing Forum was launched on Monday to share information and pool resources in fighting the disease.

Represented by key government officials from the health and social security ministries, members of academia and civil societies composed primarily of sufferers, the forum aims to provide the government with feasible and constructive recommendations in the battle against AIDS.

"Civil societies play an indispensable role in effective AIDS control led by the government and the forum helps form a long-term partnership between the two," Vice-Health Minister Yin Li said.

More importantly, it allows for open and equal discussion among the participants, which was unimaginable 10 years ago, said Zhang Wenkang, president of the Chinese Association of STD & AIDS Prevention and Control and a former health minister.

"It boosts our confidence to have a better working environment for the civil society, though I don't think it will make a difference over night to major problems like legal recognition and registration of the groups and supporting resources, said Thomas Cai, who heads AIDS Care China, a Guangzhou-based civil society that provides support to sufferers and their families.

His organization assists 15,000 AIDS patients on medication, nearly 25 percent of the total receiving treatment in the country, which is estimated to have 740,000 sufferers.

China has hundreds of anti-AIDS civil societies. However, due to the difficulties involved, most of them are not registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which hinders their ability to find funding and carry out their work, experts said.

These factors seriously affect the independence of their work, according to Cai, who conceded that many civil societies in China lack a practical working attitude and useful skills.

"Around the world, there is a realization by governments and civil society alike that each needs to work regularly with the other as true and equal partners in the fight against AIDS, each leaning on the other, each learning from the other," he said.

Previously, exchange and cooperation between the government and civil society was occasional and project based, he said.

"Civil societies serve as a lubricant between the community of sufferers and government departments. As such, they help the government to do a better job in delivering AIDS control and care policies," Cai said, adding that all of his group's 30-odd projects currently under way have received the assistance of government agencies.

"The government's staff for AIDS control and their knowledge about the community are limited, so we can help bridge the gap," he said.

However, awareness remains poor at local levels. Cai attributed this to local governments being distrustful of civil societies and viewing them as "enemies" with political agendas, despite central government calls for better dialogue and partnership with NGOs.

"It needs time and constant advocacy to change," said Qiu Renzong, a bioethics researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The challenge now will be to translate these important efforts into real action," said Steve Kraus, director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team Asia-Pacific.

(China Daily July 6, 2010)