$33 mln spent in China-Australia health program

 China and Australia have spent 210 million yuan (33.39 million U.S. dollars) in a five-year bilateral health program to facilitate HIV/AIDS research and prevention work.

The figure was released as the two sides held a ceremony on Thursday to mark the success of bilateral cooperation on the China-Australia Health and HIV/AIDS Facility (CAHHF) program.

CAHHF, sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), subsidized 53 projects and helped to bring about more than 170 policy research theses on academic journals since its launch in 2007.

The facility is open to Chinese and Australian government departments and research institutions specializing in the control and prevention of infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS.

To support the Chinese government's health reform priorities, the facility used expertise from both Chinese and Australian health institutions.

Chinese Minister of Health Chen Zhu said the facility was a good example of the China-Australia partnership in health work, which has laid a solid foundation for future cooperation.

Frances Adamson, Australia's ambassador to China, said the facility strengthened bilateral ties between the two countries.

He also said Australia will continue its cooperation with China in dealing with drug-resistant malaria and HIV/AIDS.

CAHHF is jointly overseen by China's Ministry of Health, Australia's Department of Health and Ageing, China's Ministry of Commerce and AusAID.