Besides education programs, the government installed automatic condom-vending machines in selected areas. For instance in Beijing, almost 3,000 machines had been set up at entertainment venues.

By the end of this year, the Beijing municipal public health bureau said automatic condom-vending machines would be installed at all construction sites with more than 500 workers.

Dalian City in northeast China's Liaoning Province provided 3,000 migrant workers with free HIV tests last year. It is not known how many tested positive.

"Successful HIV/AIDS prevention projects in certain areas should be promoted with joint efforts in all provinces and cities nationwide," said Zhang. "If we can prevent the spread of AIDS among the migrant population, the whole campaign in China will make remarkable progress."

"The migrant population needs more attention. What we have done is far from enough. They should be educated about the disease and encouraged to have safer sex," said an expert.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2008)