As 2025 draws to a close, China reflects on four decades of transformative progress in combating AIDS since detecting its first case in 1985. What began as a daunting public health challenge has evolved into a model of systematic prevention and advanced treatment through sustained scientific innovation.
Professor Li Taisheng, director of Infectious Diseases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, recently outlined China's journey in an exclusive interview. "From initial public awareness campaigns to today's precision antiretroviral therapies, our approach has always prioritized preserving life and dignity," he noted.
The Chinese mainland's current strategy combines widespread testing initiatives with free antiretroviral drug programs, achieving a 95% treatment success rate among diagnosed patients. Recent breakthroughs in long-acting injectable medications and gene-editing therapies have drawn international attention, with several innovations being adopted through WHO partnerships.
While challenges remain in reaching remote communities, China's integration of traditional Chinese medicine with modern therapies offers new research pathways. "Our next frontier is developing preventive vaccines," Professor Li revealed, highlighting clinical trials underway through APEC health collaboration frameworks.
