Peking University, Dec. 2, 2010: The 2010 Beijing College World AIDS Day Symposium with the theme "Against Discrimination and Self-protection" was held at Sunshine Hall of Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center, Peking University (PKU).

This event was co-sponsored by PKU Red Cross Society and Beijing Red Cross Society. Leaders from Beijing Red Cross Society and PKU, reporters, artistes, as well as 300 students from nearly 60 Beijing colleges and universities attended this symposium.

2010 Beijing College World AIDs Day Symposium (By Yuan Ce, Red Cross News)

At 9 o'clock in the morning, the symposium was started with the video of "Go Together" prepared by PKU Red Cross Society. Prof. Ju Chuanjin, vice president of PKU, and Han Lu, executive vice president of Beijing Red Cross Society, gave speeches at the symposium and highly commended the prevention work against HIV/AIDS carried out by Beijing colleges and universities. They also introduced China's current situation in the fight against AIDS and brought up that against discrimination and self-protection should be highlighted in the defense of AIDS.

They also invited Chunni and Liuxiaolingtong, who are both actively involved in social work, as ambassadors for AIDS-related philanthropy work. Leaders from Beijing Red Cross Society  issued the letters of appointment to them, while PKU leaders gave them souvenirs as presents. Then, the ambassadors carried out a lively discussion with the present students on the topic of "Against Discrimination, Love Ourselves." They expressed that there were a lot of misconceptions on AIDS in the society nowadays, so the only way to control the spread of AIDS effectively was to fight against discrimination and respect the equal rights of AIDS patients with effects of the whole society. They also encouraged the students to give more attention to this world-wide issue and spread the right concepts to more people.

The symposium was ended in students' praying. Students expressed that the prevention of AIDS was something that everyone in the world should pay attention to. The younger generation, especially the college students, must have more responsibilities and obligations to take part in the fight against AIDS actively.

After the symposium, the students competed in the targeted race of "12.1" at PKU campus, and learnt more knowledge on AIDS through this activity. By publicizing the knowledge to the passers-by, they also aroused more youths to concern AIDS and its sufferers.

It is reported that other colleges and universities in Beijing would carry out activities to promote the World AIDS Day.

Related news: Red Cross News (Chinese)

Translated by: Lim Yee Chuin
Edited by: Su Juan
Source: PKU News (Chinese)