The Chinese government has stepped up its nationwide anti-AIDS campaign as the Party's Central Party School gave lessons on AIDS prevention to party communists.

The party's resolution came on the tail of some alarming figures. The reported number of HIV cases climbed to 183,733 this year from 144,089 at the end of last year, according to statistics announced by the Ministry of Health. Of the reported cases, 40,667 have developed into AIDS.

Some thought the Party suspected them of irresponsible behavior, and that some of them may have AIDS, reported the People's Daily Overseas Edition on December 1.

The gist of the Party regulations barred members from dissolute behavior that leaders say would darken the Party's image and destabilize their power.

"Some misunderstand the move, believing that this sort of thing should not be taught in Party schools, while others fear it will jeopardize official images and political reputations," Jin Wei, the professor in charge of the AIDS prevention lessons told the paper.

Jin noted that his task is to convey to officials that AIDS prevention is not only a matter of disease control. It is also a social and strategic issue.

China's AIDS prevention efforts have benefited a world that is working towards defeating the fatal disease.

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS staff employee Lei Ruozhou spoke highly of the nation's prevention resolution.

"China will pilot the global fight against AIDS," Lei said.

The government has stepped up the fight against HIV/AIDS in recent years, increasing spending on prevention programmes and implementing anti-discrimination legislation, but the government faces a harsh domestic situation.

Over 800,000 Chinese people have contracted HIV, according to the paper, adding the government of the world's most populous country has a long way to go in battling the disease.

In China's improvised western regions and some central regions, illegal blood trade has been billed as a way to wealth for farmers who can hardly squeeze profits from crop plants. Rampant drug addicts sharing dirty needles in boundary Yunnan Province has deter the central government's efforts to deal with the disease. Underground sex trade has been enjoying a brisk development despite frequent moves and campaigns.

Jin says the results of a recent poll of over 3000 officials from 15 provinces shows mid-level officials' awareness, knowledge and information about the global AIDS situation has rapidly increased.

"The number of present officials who believe that AIDS control is included in their work has risen by 14.34 per cent," said Jin.

A member from Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province acknowledges that he had thought the prevention and control of the disease was not his work, but someone else's. "But after the training, I will broaden my efforts to promote the AIDS control and seek better ways to tackle the deadly disease," he said.